“Whatever you have to say to him, you might as well tell me. It’s my home, and I’m not about to let a bunch of assholes destroy what we’ve built,” Matthew vowed.
Leo never broke his gaze from Julio. “It’s time you took the lead of your team. No more disappearing for weeks at a time without communication. They follow my orders because they trust me to make the right calls. I don’t always get it right, but I damn sure learn from my mistakes and move on. We’ll always show up when needed. One day, we may find ourselves calling you for a favor. We damn well expect you to show up,” Leo said gravely.
Julio heard the words and knew he needed to step up. Leo’s voice sounded ominous.
Taco placed the schematics on the table. Matthew leaned in, knowing more about the place than Julio did. Another sign he must step up as a leader. He left the job to Matthew, whose technical skills couldn’t be matched, but he didn’t necessarily enjoy leading. Julio listened as they went over every scenario. When they finished, Leo sent the men to rest for the remainder of the flight.
“When we land, you’ll take over the mission and call the shots. It’s your new home and the position I hired you for. Take the reins here and in your personal life and don’t confuse the two,” Leo said sadly before rising and heading toward the back.
CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
Rebecca rotated the men, covering for each other as they used the bathroom and grabbed something to eat. They didn’t know when or if the ring planned to attack, but she refused to become a victim a second time. Rachel and Delaney held down the fort in the basement and Mac planted a few surprises if their guests appeared.
Time ticked slowly, giving Rebecca time to ponder over the last few weeks and how she avoided Julio. At the time of her kidnapping, she told the women about Julio to offer them hope in the dismal world they experienced. A part of her wanted to believe he’d never give up. When he finally discovered her whereabouts, she couldn’t bring herself to think about all they lost over the past year. The pain hurt too much. Anger replaced her fear and worry when she realized he went into the lion’s den alone. He left her without even discussing the plan. Maybe he felt the disconnect, too.
A hand touched her shoulder, making her jump and bringing her back into the present. “The team’s plane landed and Ivan’s men will arrive shortly,” Mac reported.
“Good,” she said, moving away from Mac. As if sensing her problem, he took a step back. “I’ll feel better with more men for backup.”
“Me, too,” he agreed. “I don’t like placing everyone in the basement this long. They don’t like the darkness.”
“No. None of us do,” she said quietly, searching the landscape outside.
“If you don’t need anything, I’ll head back to my post,” Mac said as he watched the road.
“I’m good,” she assured him. “I hate the damnable waiting.”
“True, but I much prefer it to the alternative,” he replied as he walked toward the back.
Rebecca watched him go before turning toward the window. A blast sounded from the back, jarring the house. She jumped up, running toward where she saw Mac last disappear. Screams came from the basement as she shouted her orders, “Stay at your posts and shoot to kill. We’ll have backup shortly.”
Smoke and dust filled the air, and Rebecca raised her shirt over her nose and shielded her eyes as she searched for Mac. She kept her weapon out and ready to defend them if needed. The tat, tat, tat of rifles firing came from the front as she saw a man sneaking through the hole in the wall, holding something in his hand. Waiting until he appeared closer to rule him out as a friendly, she fired her weapon, hitting the suspect in the knee. He fell, screaming and holding his leg. Rebecca crouched and waited as the dust settled, knowing he didn’t come alone. Scanning the rubble, she saw Mac’s hat and hand lying prone on the floor.
Glancing in all directions, she hit her com. “I have one injured. Stay in your positions,” she said calmly as she moved toward Mac, covering him. Grabbing his arm, she pulled with all her might to get him to safety. Her weakened state proved futile, as she could only move him a short distance. Bullets flew allaround her and hit the ground. She dropped Mac’s hand, leading them away from the older man. Ragu cursed into the coms.
“They brought a frickin’ army. Where the hell is Leo?” Ragu shouted.
Another blast shook the house and glass shattered toward the front. “Shit.” She swore as she rounded the corner. A bullet hit too close to her face, spraying her with shards of wood and plaster as she ducked down low.
“I’m coming, Becca,” she heard Julio’s smooth voice say over the com.
“Pull back,” she directed the men toward the front as the ring peppered the house with bullets. A sense of ease filled her, knowing Julio finally arrived.
“I’m hit,” one of the hands reported. “They keep coming.”
Rebecca crawled on her hands and knees toward Mac, recalling how he planted his surprises.
“Incoming,” she called, pressing a button. The ground shook and smoke filled the air. Screams of injured men followed as she hit the second button.
“Good job, Rebecca,” Ragu said in her ear. “Hold off until we have the team’s position. You took out a few.”
Rebecca felt Mac for a heartbeat as she scanned the hole in the side of the farmhouse. Four men entered and she raised her weapon, firing her rounds. One fell while the others split and dove for cover.
Rebecca used the time to run down the hall and find a new hiding place. Outside, the ranch sounded like a war zone. She clung to an interior wall, not knowing if they planned to blast their way through. She rounded the corner to see a man open the door to the basement. The screams grew loud as he descended the steps and a shotgun blast came from below. Rebecca reached the doorway and she watched the man fall down the stairs in a dead heap. Rachel threw up her shotgun and aimed it atRebecca. Noticing her as a friendly, she lowered it and kicked the man to ensure he didn’t plan to surprise them.
Her shoulders relaxed as she watched Rachel remove his weapon. Leo’s team must have closed in as the ruckus outside seemed to lessen. A hand covered her mouth and dragged her backward toward the rear of the house.
Rebecca twisted and struggled against her attacker as panic set in. She reared her head back, smashing his nose. The man cursed and his hold loosened, giving her enough time to escape his hold. He caught her arm, twisting it hard and his hand swung, hitting her in the face. She tasted her own blood as he dragged her dazed body. Refusing to accept her fate, she turned and grabbed his leg, making him stumble.
