In an attempt to calm him, Ryker squeezed Gabe’s shoulder and said, “The good news is she’s alive.”
“But for how long?” Gabe raged, throwing the guy’s hand off. “And whatever they’re doing to her, it’s making her fucking unconscious.”
Unconscious.
Vulnerable.
Unable to defend herself.
“Fuck!”
He turned away. He raked his hands through his hair, tempted to pull every last strand out. Never before had he felt this helpless. Not even when Vic had held that gun to her head years before.
At least then, he could see her. Could talk to her and tell her everything would be okay. But they weren’t okay. Not even fucking close.
Thanks to his time with both the Navy and R.I.S.C., Gabe knew better than most that some things—especially those done to women—were worse than death.
“Ah, God.” He locked his fingers behind his head. “I can’t lose her. Not now.”
“You won’t so long as you pull your head out of your ass and act like the goddamn operative we all know you to be.”
His eyes flew back to Ryker’s. “She wouldn’t even be there if it wasn’t for you.”
“And we can play that particular blame game later. But right now, your wife and my asset are waiting for us to go in there and save their asses.”
“He’s right, Gabe.” Jenna approached him with caution, tears glittering in her emerald eyes. “Elle needs you. Now, more than ever. Please.”
Get yourself together, man. She needs you. They both do.
Letting his arms drop back to his sides, Gabe turned to Ryker. With his chest still heaving, he asked, “We have visual confirmation, so when do we leave?”
“Ghost’s team is going to stay put. I got off the phone with Jake a few minutes ago. The R.I.S.C. jet is fueled and ready to go. I’ll line up a couple of choppers to meet us near the border, and we can fly into Mexico from there.” He pointed to one of the satellite images on the table. “That’s where Ghost and the others landed theirs. We’ll go through these trees through there and position ourselves here. It’ll take us about an hour to get through these trees, less if we walk fast.”
“When do we leave?” Gabe asked again anxiously.
After mentally running through the list of things that needed to be done before they could leave, Ryker said, “We should be ready to take off by this time tomorrow. Once there, we’ll wait until dusk to go in. That time of day, their guard will be down some, plus the night sky will help conceal us. As soon as you and your men can get your shit together and drive to your boss’s ranch.”
Chapter 22
Bravo and Delta Teams watched and waited as Henry Radcliff left the small shed. Shortly after, the same man Ghost had seen earlier went inside, only to return minutes later carrying Ellena who lay limp in his arms.
Gabe’s blood boiled with an unprecedented rage. One that was eating him from the inside out. But unlike back at the cabin, he forced himself to hold it at bay.
Every cell in his body screamed to run full-bore and take every one of the bastards out. Instead, he allowed his training to override his emotions and kept a steady head.
He had to, for Ellena’s sake. And for Walker’s.
If the guy’s even still alive.
Once the man had Ellena back inside the house and out of the line of fire, Gabe gave the teams one final rundown, ensuring every man there knew exactly what they were expected to do. A few minutes later, they initiated their plan.
With their guns up and ready, Zade and Kole took out the two men standing guard at either corner of the house while Gabe took out the one guarding the front door.
Ghost’s men were already in place around the perimeter with clear vantage points of the west side and back of the house. Surprising them all, Ryker had also suited up, and made the trip with them, and was just inside the tree line on the east side of the house.
From what Gabe could hear through his com, Delta had already taken out the two guards by the back door, and Ryker had eliminated a guy running out the east door, as well.
“I’m going in.” Gabe growled as he started across the front lawn.
