“Who’s bringing him in?” Kyle asked.
“No one.”
Confused looks circled the table.
“He’s bringing himself in. I’m pulling the feed up now.”
Everyone looked over at the screen taking up most of one conference room wall as it came to life. It was divided into nine different views of roads, Colorado highways, woods, and various shots of the Watchdog property. Eight screens shrank into an L-shape around a ninth screen that Tex enlarged remotely. As they watched, Frank’s truck drove up Ute and took the turnoff leading to Watchdog.
“Is he fucking nuts or just suicidal?” Kyle said.
“We have about fifteen minutes to find out,” Gina said.
“I’m letting the gate know,” Kyle said, pulling out his phone. Just as he was about to call down to the gate, his phone buzzed, and he smiled.
“Yeah, Mack, we see him on the cameras too. Consider him armed and dangerous, but do not engage unless absolutely necessary and just let him through. Yeah, I’m sure. For all we know, he’s got Sylvie Madden hostage. If she’s in the truck, we don’t want her as collateral damage. If she’s being held somewhere, we need him alive to tell us where. For now.” He looked at the others. “We’ll be the welcoming committee.”
From there, they went to the arsenal.
Mack kept them updated on Frank’s progress while they put on flak jackets and chose their weapons. At some point, Gina grabbed an AK-15 with a scope and disappeared, and every man in the room knew she had their backs.
By the time they were ready and waiting in the lot, Alex could hear Frank’s truck making its way toward them. He was in no hurry. Mack had reported that Frank only nodded at them and gave their guns a dead-eyed stare as he drove past. No sign of Sylvie, but that didn’t mean a damn thing.
Alex’s gut churned.He could have her tied up on the passenger-side floor. Unconscious or…
He wouldn’t let himself complete that thought. Instead, he focused on his breathing, the way he’d taught Kyle—deep breath, hold, exhale. Even now, he could see Kyle using the same technique.
Frank’s truck rolled past the pine trees and turned into the parking lot. He cut the engine as they formed a semi-circle in front of him. He stared back out at them without any expression.
“Let’s see your hands,now!” Kyle yelled.
Frank held them up. Empty. “I’m leaning over and opening the passenger door,” he said through the open driver’s side window. “I know you want me dead, but don’t shoot or you’ll hurt her.”
Fuck!
“Sylvie?” Alex shouted. “Baby, you in there?” He started forward but Wolf stopped him.
“Easy, brother,” he said softly, never lowering his gun.
The passenger door opened, and she jumped out.
Frank’s dog Betty hit the ground, panting heavily in her flak jacket. She whined and walked in a tight circle before she sat down and looked at the men with the guns.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-ONE
After letting Betty out, Frank straightened up in the truck, hands in the air. That’s when the red laser dot appeared over his heart—Gina letting herself be known.
“If you’ll let me out without killing me, I’ll explain everything,” Frank said.
“The only thing you need to explain is where you fucking put Sylvie!” Alex spat.
Betty dropped to her belly and whined.
Kyle looked at Alex and put up his hand for silence. “Come here, girl.” He spoke softly and signaled to Betty to come to him. The dog stood up, tail wagging with uncertainty, and took a few hesitant steps toward Kyle before bolting past him, then turning and sitting down. Once she was safely away from the truck, they all approached slowly.
“Keep your hands up. No sudden moves,” Kyle ordered. “Alex, open the door.”
Wolf let go of Alex’s arm. Frank complied as Alex walked around to the driver’s side door and opened it. He grabbed Frank and threw him to the ground, then put his foot over the back of his neck.
