Being caught wasn’t an option.
From all Carson had told them, the cartel members were ruthless and always out for blood.They didn’t let their enemies go unharmed.Most of the time, they used them as examples, torturing and killing them as a warning to others not to cross them.Raul Delgado was one of the worst for using this terror tactic.
After they hid the truck in the brush, the men and Gina gathered their weapons and took off over the hills, moving in the direction of Delgado’s home.They moved quickly across rough terrain, careful not to expose themselves to anyone who might be lurking.The setting sun cast long, dark shadows, giving them sufficient concealment as they navigated the hills and gullies, working their way toward Delgado’s compound.
The road curving up to the hilltop hideaway switched back and forth.The four of them kept climbing, keeping a watch on the road from a distance.So far, they hadn’t seen anyone going up or down.
Chase worried they were setting their sights on the wrong goal.Alana might not be inside the cartel leader’s compound after all.If she wasn’t, they would have wasted precious time getting there.However, with no other intel on Delgado’s haunts, they didn’t have any other choice.
First over the top of the ridge, Chase spotted the compound on the next rise.He stopped and held up a fist for the others to stop as well.
They lined up just below the ridge to look over the rise and study their target.
Surrounded by high walls, the building within them was large and sprawling, with windows on the upper level that probably offered a great view of the ocean below.
“I spot a guard on the rooftop.”Carson handed Chase the binoculars he’d brought along with him.
Chase had been looking through the scope of his rifle and had yet to spot him.With the wider range of the binoculars, he quickly located the man dressed in black, carrying a rifle.He leaned against a wall, staring out over the road leading up to the main gate.
Chase looked closer.“Two men on the gate, and one roaming the outer wall on this side.For all we know, there might be another on the other side and the rear.”
“We can take out the guy on the wall and go over the top,” Trevor said.He glanced at the last of the sun dipping downward into the ocean to the west.
“By the time we get close to the wall, it’ll be dark enough to provide cover for our approach,” Gina said.
At that moment, Chase’s cell phone vibrated in his pocket.He pulled it out and stared down at the name on the screen.He hit the talk button and pressed the phone to his ear.“Hey, Hank.”
“We ran into a bit of luck at the airport,” Hank said.“At the general aviation ramp, we overheard the pilot of another plane talking to a truck driver about a delivery he had for the same address as the one you gave us.We waited until he’d loaded the cargo from the plane into the truck.When he had it all loaded, he went back into the terminal, giving us the opportunity to add to his cargo.”
“What are you telling me?”Chase asked.
Hank chuckled.“We hitched a ride in the back of the delivery truck.We’re well on our way.”
Chase could feel the weight of the mission ease a little.“That’s good news.”
“All we need is for you to make sure we get past whatever guards might be at the gate checking the delivery trucks,” Hank said.
“We’ll do our best,” Chase promised.“Be prepared in case we aren’t successful.”
“Roger,” Hank said and ended the call.
Chase pocketed his cell phone and turned the binoculars on the narrow, winding road leading up to Delgado’s compound.“The cavalry is on the way.They hitched a ride in the back of a delivery truck destined for the Delgado compound.”
Trevor clapped Chase on his back.“I told you Hank was a standup kind of guy.Trust him to be there when you need him.”
“We have to get to the compound before they arrive and neutralize the guards on the gate, so that they don’t inspect the back of the delivery truck.At the very least, we need to create enough of a distraction to give the guys a chance to exit the truck and enter the compound on their own.”
“I think we can do that,” Carson said.“I have the C-4 explosives I brought with me.We can set up a pretty decent distraction on the back side of the compound—enough to take their minds off what’s out front.”
“Okay, Carson, you’re on for setting charges,” Chase said.“Make noise, not so much damage.We don’t know for sure where inside they might be keeping Alana.We need to time it for when Trevor and I are at the wall.Blow the charge, and we’ll go over during the confusion.Once we’re inside, we’ll find Alana.”
Trevor’s lips twisted.“That’s a tall order for three SEALs and a soldier.”
Chase shrugged.“Sometimes, less is better.We have less chance of being discovered when there are only two of us on the inside.”
“Two?No way.What about me?”Gina asked.
“You need to be Carson’s backup while he’s setting charges.Once he triggers the explosion, you two can slip around to the front and take out the guards on the gate.Since we don’t have radios, we’ll communicate via cell phone texts and coordinate our efforts that way.But first, we need to get to the base of the compound.Set your phones to silent if you haven’t already.”
