“I have to agree,” Gyth added.
Blowing out a breath, I tried again. “I know Champ. He will listen to me, and if I can get his attention so I can get him under the bed, then he will be safer when it all goes down if someone enters the room before I reach him.”
Even though everything we’d seen indicated only two people were inside, I knew better than to underestimate the unknown or assume nothing could go wrong. It was wiser to plan for any eventuality.
I turned to my brother-in-law, with determination in my gaze, along with a silent plea for backup.
“Let him try,” Lyric said. “I’ve been around Griffin enough to know that he will do exactly what Jett says. The little guy worships his father and is enamored with everything he’s done in the military.” Lyric gave me a nod. “He won’t let his daddy down. Plus, if he can get a signal to him, we can use the flashbang.”
My eyes pricked with tears as I listened to my brother, my friend, and now, my teammate’s words. Not only did he have faith in me, but he also had faith in Griffin. But it was the part about how my son felt about me that made it difficult to push away the emotions.
The seconds of silence that ticked by after we both finished our spiels were agonizing. I knew that I had to follow Gyth’s lead on this one.
“Okay,” Gyth started, and the tension deflated from my body. “Once our other man is in place, you have five minutes to get it done.”
I stared through the window, my eyes trained on Griffin as an unfamiliar voice I didn’t know came through our comms. Slipping to the side of the window, I placed my weight against the wood of the cabin.
“Coming toward you guys now.”
It was a good thing Gyth came prepared with extra gearand had another earpiece for the sheriff; otherwise him rustling through the bushes could have spelled trouble. Once the man cleared the brush, making his way to Lyric and me, I knew without a doubt he was also ex-military.
His eyes said it all.
“We don’t have much time for introductions, so let’s make this quick. I’m Hayes.” The man thrust his hand out toward Lyric, who shook it, and then extended it to me. “I’m sorry about your son.”
I grasped his palm and shook his hand, wondering how he knew it was my son inside and not Lyric’s.
“I could see it in your eyes.”
Well, that answered my unspoken question. And wasn’t that just the same thing I’d thought about him a second ago? Looked like he fit right in. I gave him a nod of thanks, then released his hand.
“Do your thing,” Gyth told me, having overheard our brief exchange.
“You got this,” Lyric added.
After taking a deep breath, I turned back to the window to find my son laying back down on the bed, once again curled into a small ball. Very quietly, I raised my hand, and lightly tapped on the glass. Not too loud, but hopefully enough to catch my son’s attention.
His head lifted off the mattress a fraction and I could practically see his ears perk up as I tapped again. He was always a curious little guy, and I was grateful for that at the moment. When he sat up, his legs dangling over the edge, hope surged within me.
Another tap drew his attention to the window, his eyes rounding in surprise when recognition dawned. Griffin’s lips quivered and I could see his breath shutter in his chest. Planting his feet on the ground, he slowly approached withhis small brows furrowed as if he couldn’t believe I was truly there.
I placed a finger over my lips in ashhmotion; he bobbed his head in acknowledgement right away. Damn, I knew the kid was smart and would work with me. When he was right up by the glass, his head tilted upward to see me, I used my hands to gesture to what I needed him to do, while mouthing the words.
Making motions with two fingers pointing down, moving them in what looked like a fast-walking motion, I pointed back toward the bed where he had been. Then with one hand laid flat like the bed, I ducked my other hand under the first trying to tell him to get under it, and then covered my ears trying to convey that was what he needed to do.
Please let this work.
A tiny smile formed on his tear-streaked face, and he nodded again. Without hesitation, my son turned from me and rushed over, throwing himself under the bed exactly as I asked. I watched as he covered his ears, but then the damndest thing happened.
Griffin moved one hand off the side of his face, and slid his arm out from under the bed, shocking me as he gave me a thumbs up. Then he pulled his arm back under the bed to cover his ears once again, while also squeezing his eyes shut.
I couldn’t have been prouder than I was right then.
“Griffin is in position. Ready for the flashbang.”
Murmurs from the guys about how awesome my son was echoed through the comms, making me even more proud. I had a feeling in my gut that he’d know exactly what to do, and he passed with flying colors.
“Get into position,” Gyth ordered. “We need to move before someone goes into the room.”
