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The phone in that Russian's pocket was still transmitting. Every word. Every sound. Every terrified breath Katherine took.

I pulled the Armada into the Premier Lodge parking lot at exactly 4:12. My hands were steady on the wheel, but inside I was barely holding it together.

"Code." Jase's voice was quiet. Careful. "You with me?"

"I'm here."

"You sure? Because I need you tactical, not emotional."

I wanted to tell him to go fuck himself, but he was right. I forced myself to take a breath. Then another.

Through my phone, still connected to Katherine's, I heard Viktor's voice. "Russell, you have thirty seconds to tell me where your laptop is, or I start breaking your sister’s fingers. One at a time."

"It's on the balcony!" Russell's voice cracked. "In Sophie's tote bag on the balcony! I'll give you everything, just don't hurt her!"

"Smart boy," Viktor said. I heard him bark something in Russian.

I pulled into a spot with a clear view of the fourth floor. Room 1430 would be on the east side. I could see the balconies from here.

"Simon, what's your ETA?" I asked into my comms.

"Twelve minutes out," Simon responded. "Traffic's a bitch."

Twelve minutes too long.

"Jase and I are going in now."

"Copy that. We'll be there for cleanup."

I looked at Jase. He was already checking his weapon - his Glock 19, same one he always carried. I had my Sig Sauer. We had zip ties, our comms, and that was it. No tactical vests. No special gear. Just what we'd had on us when we left the cabin.

It would have to be enough.

"I'm going up to 1530, directly above them," I said. "I'll access their balcony from there. You take the main door to 1430."

"How are you getting down from 1530's balcony?"

"I'm jumping."

Jase's eyebrows rose. "It's one floor."

"Yeah."

"Your ribs⁠—"

"Are fine. We breach simultaneously. I'll come through the balcony, you breach the main door. We hit them from two directions."

Jase nodded. "On your mark."

We moved fast through the lobby. The clerk looked up, and Jase flashed his driver's license like it was a badge, his hand positioned so she couldn't read it clearly. "Federal agents. Emergency situation. Fourth floor."

Her mouth opened, but we were already past her, hitting the stairs.

My phone was clipped to my belt, on mute, volume low but still transmitting. I could hear everything.

"Don't give him anything, Russell." Katherine's voice. Strong. Clear. "The moment you do, our lives are forfeited."