Shit, shit, shit.
The boy wraps his arms around his grandmother’s waist, and I limp as quickly as I can back to Austin and Trevor.
“Flash bang—or some sort of explosive—inside. We have to get to Cortez. Now!” If he dies, will the assholes who took Domina have any reason to keep her alive?
Trev shoves his rifle bag at Austin and double-times it back to the dumpster.
“What the fuck are you doing? We need to get back in—”
Trevor vaults onto the corrugated metal lid and peers down at me. “There’s no way we’re going through the front door. You know a faster way to get in? Because I don’t. Get up here and give me a boost. I didn’t bring a grappling hook.”
Austin climbs up next to him while I stand there, gaping. He’s right, but I should have known…
Bracing himself against the wall, Austin cups his hands on his thigh. “On three.”
By the time I haul my ass onto the dumpster, Trev is wedging his tactical knife under the sash of one of the narrow, second-floor windows. They’re barely wide enough, but after a string of curses, Trevor gets his shoulders through.
Austin passes him the rifle case, then nods at me. “You’re next.”
Shit. I’m in no shape to scale walls. But for Domina, I’ll do anything. Even push my body to its limits. And beyond.
Austin gets me close enough to curl my fingers over the sill, but my shoulder pops, and shooting pains run down my back. I scramble for purchase, scuffing my shoes against the brick wall. “I’m slipping!”
Trev grabs my wrists, and Austin shoves at my feet. It’s just enough to get my torso through the window. I tumble onto the hard tile floor, and Trev holds out his hand. “Get up, brother. There’s rope in my bag. Toss it down for Stars and Bars. I’ll check the hallway. Make sure we’re clear.”
I let him help me up. We lock gazes for the briefest of moments. He’ll kick my ass later for tackling him—and I deserve it—as long as we get Domina back. But for now, we’re solid.
I tie the rope around my waist and toss the other end out the window. The sudden weight almost sends me crashing into the wall when Austin grabs on, but less than a minute later, he pulls himself up and lands on the floor in a crouch.
“You weigh a fucking ton,” I mutter.
Trev signals for us to follow him down the hall. It’s almost quiet here, though the screams and shouts from downstairs provide a low-level background hum.
We’re sneaking around the business center of a goddamn hotel while Domina’s out there somewhere. Probably scared out of her mind. Hurt. Alone.
And I’m free with two men who would die for me at my side.
“Base? Any idea which room the target’s in?” Trev asks.
“Checking.” Zephyr’s reply comes only a few seconds later, but each one feels like an hour. “From the broadcast, he entered the Rosa room from the back left. Check out Tulipán. Ahead on the right. Third door.”
We only make it a few steps before she breaks in again. “Got Charlie on the breaking news situation. I’m staying on traffic cameras. Will let you know what he finds.”
“Charlie?” I hiss at Austin.
He mouths,“Ripper.”I’m fucking sick of code names. Especially for people I’ve never met.
Moving as one, we head for the Tulipán room. Trevor tosses the black bag at Austin and pulls a small Sig Sauer from his ankle holster. “This is gonna get messy. Cover me.”
“With a fucking sniper rifle?” After a muffled curse, Austin pulls out the SRS A2 and flips off the safety.
I’ve never felt so helpless in my entire life. No gun. No body armor. No idea where the woman I love is now. Or if she’s even still alive.
“Leo. Door,” Trev snaps. I trade places with him, my hand on the lever knob. “On my mark.” He blows out a breath, counts down, and I shove the door open. “Nobody move!” Trevor shouts as he breaches the small room. “Hands in the air. All of you. Right fucking now!”
Austin and I follow, though without a weapon, I’m less than useless.
Shit. Omar, Isobel, and that pissant, Rafael, are the only ones in the room. They huddle together behind a table laid out with a full spread of coffee, donuts, and pastries. Another table a few feet away is turned on its side, and broken china litters the floor.
