Protecting Tessa (Special Forces: Operation Alpha) (Brotherhood Alliance #6)

Chapter 45

45

T he men huddled around the table, the tension thick in the air as they finalized their strategy.

They only had one shot, a brief window to reach the warehouse and rescue Tessa before Malina could move her—or worse.

From the security footage they saw, they knew two men were there, presumably Damien and Marty. Dex wasn’t able to track Malina after she passed into Georgia, so she was the wild card.

“We’ll take three cars,” Chase said with a steady but urgent voice. “Ford, Dex and Finn in one. Zach and Titus in another. Will, Colt and I will follow. We’ll cover all exits and coordinate the breach when we get there. No one gets out.”

“Let’s gear up,” Chase said.

They moved swiftly to the hidden room off Chase’s office. It contained all the firepower they needed. Rows of weapons were neatly arranged on the wall along with tactical gear: bulletproof vests, radios, and night-vision goggles.

They all put on bulletproof vests and radios. Ford grabbed a tactical shotgun, checking the chamber, while Dex loaded an M4 carbine suitable for close quarters. Finn, Zach, and the rest chose single pistols with a holstered backup, knives tucked into their pants.

“Everyone ready?” Chase asked, doing a final check of his weapons.

“Locked and loaded,” said Dex.

Thankfully, it was still early, and no one was in the building when they left.

“Let’s move,” said Chase.

They filed out of the building, each in their own thoughts as they climbed into the vehicles. Ford slid into the driver’s seat, gripping the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white. The warehouse was about thirty minutes away, and Ford’s mind was racing with fear and anxiety. He couldn’t wait to hold Tessa in his arms again. He couldn’t bear to think of the alternative.

He glanced at his watch. Six thirty. Over twelve hours since Tessa was kidnapped. Was she all right? Was she even still alive?

She had to be frightened, wondering if she’d get rescued. He only prayed that Damien and Marty hadn’t hurt her.

And hopefully, Malina wasn’t there, because things could be far worse. But if wishes were horses, blah blah.

Daylight was creeping in, the sky shifting from indigo and salmon to lighter shades of pink and orange. The cover of night was slipping, and the clock was ticking.

The rescue had to be fast, precise. Lives hung in the balance.

Tessa’s head lolled forward, her breathing shallow. The bruises on her face and arms were no longer painful, just numb.

After Marty grabbed her, her last memory was of Damien’s fist slamming into her stomach for no reason other than cruelty. She’d passed out as Marty threw her over his shoulder.

And here she was. Tied to the same chair in the same warehouse she escaped from just a short time ago.

A chill ran down her spine. The surrounding air changed. She sensed fear, and it wasn’t only coming from her. Marty and Damien were afraid, too.

A pair of high heels clicked on the concrete floor and stopped in front of her.

Louboutin’s, if she had to guess. Shoes she’d never be able to afford, not that she wanted them. And dear lord, why was she focusing on shoes?

Because the alternative was worse. Tessa didn’t want to look up. She knew who it was.

Malina.

And Tessa knew her luck had just run out.

“Tsk, tsk. What a mess you’ve gotten yourself into.” That voice. Oh God. She knew that voice.

Tessa slowly raised her head. Simone!

No. Malina. How could she not know?

How could she know? She’d never met or seen Malina … Simone. Whatever the hell her name was.

“I’ll deal with you shortly, my pretty,” Malina said with a cruel smile as she ran her fingers down Tessa’s face. She flinched as nausea threaded its way up her gut.

She glanced over at Marty and Damien, who were looking nervous.

“Imagine my surprise when I arrived half an hour ago and found no Tessa, and you two were nowhere to be seen. For a moment, I thought the three of you had betrayed me and run off.”

“Never,” exclaimed Damien, his voice cracking.

“No? Then tell me how Tessa got away from you. She’s a lot smarter than the two of you, for sure.”

“Malina, we had her locked in a room,” said Marty, his voice shaking.

“My point exactly,” replied Malina. “She managed to escape from you from a locked room.”

“It wasn’t our fault the hinges were rusty,” Marty stammered.

“You two had one job. Kidnap Tessa and keep her alive until I got here.” She pointed her finger at the two men. “I’m so disappointed.”

Damien took a deep breath. “You’ll never be disappointed again, I promise.”

“Do you know what I despise most, Marty?” Malina’s lips curved into a cruel smile.

He swallowed hard. Tessa couldn’t help noticing he peed his pants.

“Excuses.”

Before either man could react, Malina pulled out a pistol from her jacket and fired two shots. Damien dropped instantly, a bullet to the brain. Marty staggered, clutching his stomach, as blood seeped between his fingers before he collapsed on the ground. Malina put another bullet in him. Silence.

Tessa screamed.

Malina crouched in front of Tessa. Tessa’s body trembled uncontrollably as she struggled against her ties.

“Now, where were we?” Malina murmured as she trailed the barrel of her gun along Tessa’s cheek. “Ah, yes. You are going to tell me what you told that cop. Just so you know, as I was slicing off his ears, he claimed you didn’t tell him anything, but I didn’t believe him.”

Tessa shook her head and clenched her jaw. No way in hell was she going to give in to fear or tell Malina anything. She was going to hold on to some dignity as long as she could, which would probably be timed in nanoseconds, not minutes.

It wasn’t as if Malina would believe anything she was told anyhow. On a table in the corner just steps away was an array of tools that would inflict pain. Tessa’s heart was pounding.

“You’ll talk,” said Malina, turning toward the table and picking up a slim knife, making a show of testing the blade. “They always do.”

Then she giggled as if it were the biggest joke yet.

Tessa struggled with her ties but to no avail.

Malina was holding the knife just steps away from Tessa. The gleam in her eyes told Tessa everything she needed to know. Malina got off on inflicting pain, and this was going to hurt really bad. And in the end, she was going to die.

“Let’s start with your fingers, shall we?”