Leon’s eyes found Delaney’s immediately, a scowl twisting his face. The recognition that shifted over his features wasn’t surprise, but more like confirmation. His surveillance had paid off, and now he was about to reap his reward.
Or so he thought.
Leon nodded at the man on his right, and together they started across the street.
Elvis pulled Delaney behind him and turned to face the threat.
Leon stopped three feet away, his men spreading out into position behind him with the casual choreography of rehearsed violence. Obviously, these men had worked together before, which meant they knew what they were doing as a team.
“Step aside,” Leon said, his voice flat. It was more like he was acting out an errand rather than there to kidnap someone, which he probably was.
Elvis stood straighter, a slow smile creeping across his face. “You ever hear the songJailhouse Rock? I love that song. You see, many people believe it’s about chaos when, really, it’s about working the room.”
Leon’s eyes moved to Delaney, a lecherous grin twisting his lips. “There’s no working anything. We outnumber you. She’s coming with us, and you’ll either remain alive as she does. Or you won’t.”
“I’ve watched you all as you approached,” Elvis said. “You work as a team. Probably have for a while if my guess is correct.” He glanced around at Leon’s men. “Teams are great. They’re always there when you need them.”
“You think the marshal is your team?” Leon asked.
Elvis scoffed. “No, no. I just met the man. Don’t get me wrong. He’s good people. But… He’s not my team.”
“Then it looks like you’re on your own,” Leon said, reaching inside his jacket pocket. “Now step aside.”
“Ah, you think you’ve hit gold,” Elvis said. “But not all that glitters is gold, my friend. Why don’t we meet my team? Hey boss, you out there?”
Leon stiffened as his men jerked their gazes around the walkway.
Silence answered Elvis, and he felt Delaney stiffen behind him. “Bobby…”
“What are you pulling, Jenkins?” Donovan asked, arms at his sides.
“Right here, Elvis,” Dane said as he stepped out from the corner of the building, his weapon drawn, eyes moving across Leon’s men with the efficiency of long practice.
Leon went still as one of his men spun around to face the newcomer, and suddenly the air filled with tension.
“Careful, dude,” Elvis said. “He’s a former SEAL. I wouldn’t mess with him. Want to meet the rest? Gage, where you at?”
From the opposite end of the block, Gage rounded the corner with the particular expression he wore when he was enjoying himself in situations that didn’t technically warrant enjoyment. With his weapon trained on the man who had flanked wide, he eased down the sidewalk.
“Present,” Gage called out.
Elvis looked back at Leon. “He’s another badass, so I’d keep your weapons where they are. Grim!”
The roof of the building directly across the street produced a single red laser dot that settled on the chest of Leon’s remaining man with the calm permanence of a period at the end of a sentence.
Elvis could tell by the look on Leon’s face that he didn’t like the way things were adding up.
The street had four of Serrano’s men, but it also had Dane at their backs, Gage on their flank, and Grim’s overwatch from the roof. And Elvis stood between all of it and Delaney.
Leon’s hand moved toward his weapon, but he froze when the red dot shifted to his throat.
“This isn’t over,” Leon said. “We will get our hands on her and then her mother.”
Elvis shrugged. “You won’t. We’re taking you in, and then we’re going after your boss.”
One of Leon’s men scooted to the side, but Donovan drew his weapon, aiming it at the man. “Not one more step. Anyone who tries to run will be shot. Now, everyone on the ground. Now!”
Elvis stayed in front of Delaney as he watched the men realize their odds of escaping had evaporated, and within ninety seconds all three of Leon’s men were face-down on the blistering Savannah pavement with their hands secured. Dane had Leon pressed against the building, his weapon in the man’s ribs. Leon simply stood there, looking like a man who had run out of moves.
