“No offense,” Matt spoke up, “but we were expecting a few more guys than this.”
Fletch responded. “Not everyone could come. We’ve been over the border in Syria finishing up an op. The rest of the team stayed back to tie things up on that end while we came here.”
Better than nothing, I guess.
“I’m assuming you want to get on this ASAP, so we’ll fill you in on what we’ve learned and go from there.” Ghost looked to Gabe for approval.
Gabe nodded. “Share away.”
Looking down at Barry, Ghost prompted him, “Go on, Barry. Tell them what you told us.”
Jaw clenched, Nate and the others stood quietly as Barry shared what he came to say.
“Akmar brought the woman you are searching for to a farm not far from here.”
Nate’s pulse spiked. “How close?”
“About a forty minute drive.”
Motherfucker.All this time, they’d been waiting for these guys to show, and Gracie was less than an hour away from them? Nate’s patience was wearing dangerously thin.
“You know this, how?” Gabe asked Barry.
“My cousin, Rasat, is a guard for Edric Yavuz. Has been for the past two years. He said the woman was taken there a few days ago.”
“Is she okay?” Nate stepped forward, unable to keep from asking. “Did your cousin say whether or not Gracie had been hurt?”
Please say no. God, please say no.
“Rasat stands guard outside the house. He has seen the woman a few times through the window, but that is all.”
“What did he see? Did Rasat tell you what condition she was in? What exactly did he see, Barry?”
“Carter.” Sensing he was dangerously close to losing his shit, Gabe had said his name in a low, even tone.
Nate whipped his head around. “I need to know if she’s okay, Gabe. We need to know whether or not she’s able to…” Nate swallowed. “If she can walk herself out of there once we get to her.”
“My cousin says he watched through the window her first day here.”
Barry’s tone was full of regret, sending Nate’s heart into his throat. “Tell me,” he ordered the nervous man. When Barry hesitated to answer, Nate yelled, “What the fuck did he see?”
“Achim was beating the woman. Hitting and kicking her. Rasat did not watch long for fearhewould be discovered and beaten for becoming distracted while guarding the property. I am sorry.”
Nate sucked in a breath. The thought of Achim using his fists on Gracie was worse than any direct hit he’d ever taken.
“Sonofabitch,” Zade hissed from behind him.
Matt was just as upset. “Swear to Christ, I want to rip that motherfucker’s head clear off his shoulders.”
Even Gabe, who remained calm in even the most intense situations, was clearly fuming. “Don’t worry. Achim will get what’s coming to him.”
“I am sorry I do not know more about the woman.”
Nate snapped. “You’resorry?” Grabbing the front of Barry’s shirt, he shoved the other man’s back against the nearest wall. “You lying piece of shit! You said you didn’t know anything about Achim. You could’ve asked your cousin where to find him the first time we came here. If you had, Gracie wouldn’t be with him now!”
“I-I did not know Rasat was working for Yavuz until now. I swear it!”
“Bullshit!” Nate got into his face. “You expect us to believe this cousin of yours just happened to come to you out of the blue and tell you who he works for and what he saw? Do we look that fucking stupid to you?”
