Chapter 50
Sarge
We’ll hit hard and fast.
The trek from the drop-off point spans just under three miles of open desert. Once the gear is secure and the men have exited the vehicles, a quick check ensures that every radio is locked to the same channel. The hum of the SUVs fades as they pull away, leaving us in a heavy silence.
The drivers know to stay within a tight radius and return in an hour if the comms go silent.
Hopefully, the plan plays out smoothly, and that backup isn’t needed.
Under any other circumstances, the day would be considered beautiful.
The sun is high, and the air is clear. It’s the perfect weather for riding.
Maybe once Hannah is home and safe, I can take her for a day trip.
Somewhere peaceful. Somewhere far enough away that she can start to burn the memory of this hell from her mind.
But right now, the forty-five-minute hike is my only priority.
Tucking the chain of my Mjolnir into my shirt, we begin our journey.
The goal is to reach the perimeter without being seen and lay low until Booker and Ace exit the house.
Once they are clear, Ace can relay the layout and Hannah’s location over the radio.
Taking out the exterior guards first will be the key to gaining easy access to the building.
Every man is equipped with at least one weapon with a silencer, which is priceless if we want the element of surprise.
Since moving through the desert together isn’t exactly covert, we split up into five groups of five.
Heading in from all angles will not only give us a wider vantage point but also make us less of a target.
Smaller groups help to create confusion when the enemy doesn’t know which direction they’re being hit from.
Every group has a compass, and they’re all locked in on our destination.
Needing eyes on the place first, I lead my group in the fastest, most direct line toward the house. With me are Bear, Wolf, Ray, and Gizmo. Halfway through the trek, a check of my lensatic compass confirms the heading. After adjusting the course by two degrees, the journey continues.
Other than mesquite, creosote, cactus, and sandy washes, there ain’t shit out here. It’s the perfect place to hide when you don’t want to be found.
The gear sits heavy on my shoulders, a stark reminder of how long it’s been since a ruck march like this.
As we nearly reach the crest of a hill, the house comes into view off in the distance. Roughly ten minutes of walking remain before reaching the gates surrounding the property. I signal for the guys to stop and pull the night vision scope from my pack.
After ensuring the lens is properly shielded to protect my eyes in the bright daylight, I peer through the small hole in the cap.
The expansive house fills the small frame in my view.
I scan the perimeter and the windows, but nothing stands out yet.
At this distance, not seeing the glow from the infrared is expected, but it does nothing to ease my anxiety. I ache to know exactly where she is.
The guys settle into the shade of the scrub around me, taking long swigs from their canteens.
“I need to do that, too,” I think, before chugging down some water myself. “Can’t see shit at the house yet. I’m hoping no news is good news.”
“Ace is a good guy. I’d say no news is good news, brother,” Wolf says, clapping me on the back. “Can’t imagine this shits easy, but we gotta just trust that things are going to plan.”
Even though Wolf is right, it doesn’t change the fact that my Butterfly isn’t back in my arms yet.
She needs to be right here, under my direct watch.
That is the only place I know she is truly safe.
I am too damn stubborn to believe anything could touch her if she were with me.
Everything awful that’s happened to her might be because of me, but none of it happened with me.
That isn’t saying I’m not to blame for this shit. I know I am, and I’ll take that guilt to the grave. But I also know I can keep her safe. From here on out, Hannah comes first. Keeping her protected and happy will be my main priority from this day forward.
The people the club helps are important, and they’ll still get what they need, but the club needs some restructuring.
It’s time for me to take a step back from the ground level and oversee it all as a President should.
I’ve been doing the work the men below me should have handled for far too long.
It’s time they step up and take more responsibility for our business.
That’ll be the first thing I take care of right after we have Hannah home safely and far as fuck away from this place.
Ten minutes of sitting here is all I can take.
The other groups already confirmed they are on course and haven’t run into any trouble.
With all going to plan, I instructed them to take ten for water.
We might be on the fastest route, but the others can’t get ahead of us.
We all need to arrive at the same time, while still allowing me to get a first eye on the place.
Only I and one other man from the Nogales chapter have infrared optics. I will have eyes on the front of the house while he takes the back. It doesn’t technically matter who spots her room first, but I hope to fuck it’s me. Knowing her location will bless me with a small sense of relief.
We continue on, snaking along the wash and staying out of sight as much as possible.
Dressed in desert camo, we blend well, but we’re still moving targets.
Booker mentioned at least two guards at the front of the mansion, which likely means there are more.
As we close the distance to the wrought iron fence, I dive behind one of the two stucco-covered pillars flanking the driveway entrance.
Two stone lions adorn the tops of the pillars.
It’s smart of them to use wrought iron instead of a solid wall.
It doesn’t leave much cover for anyone trying to approach.
Bear and Wolf stay near the wash while Gizmo takes shelter behind a healthy mesquite closer to the house.
Turning around, I wait for his signal indicating he’s hacked their security system.
While he works, I carefully scan the exterior.
Three guards are confirmed. All of them look incredibly overweight and bored.
One might even be on his phone, but I can’t be sure without binoculars.
I almost feel bad for coming in hot with a team as prepared as ours.
Their deaths won’t feel as rewarding, judging by their lack of readiness and assumed skill.
But, oh well. All that matters is ending them and getting Hannah home.
“Prez,” Giz whispers. “We’re in.”
Thank fuck. This guy makes the impossible look entirely too easy. I’ll have to remember to thank Bear again for finding this computer genius and bringing him on as a prospect.
Making sure the guards are still doing anything but their jobs, I work my way back to where Gizmo sits with his gear spread across the sandy earth.
“Your shit gonna be okay on the ground like that?” I ask, keeping my voice low but concerned for the tech.
“Should be. If it’s not, you can buy me a replacement.” He lifts his arm to play-punch me in the shoulder.
“Man, after all you’ve done to get us here, I could kiss you on the mouth—if I rolled that way. I’ll buy you whatever the fuck you want once we get out of here whole.”
“Oh, you sure about that? I’m not cheap.” He jokes.
My expression serious, “We get her out safe, you name it, I’ll get it.” Money isn’t something I’m worried about; getting Hannah out is worth more than gold to me.
I look down at the screen in his lap. Six boxes fill the display.
The quality is grainy, but the picture is at least in color.
From what I can tell, we have views of the front door, the entryway, the back door, a living room, and two shots of a long hallway lined with doors and guards.
My guess is that’s the second floor and likely where Hannah is.
If the cameras are capturing every door, I count eight guards upstairs. That’s a significant presence, but we still outnumber them. Crackling comes over the comms, and I press the earpiece further into my ear.
“Sarge, this is Warlock. I got eyes on the target room. Infrared in the window on the back side of the house.”
Relief surges through my chest at his words. Warlock used to be in the Tucson chapter until he met the woman he couldn’t live without on the other side of the border and chose to patch over to be with her. Seeing the infrared signature means Ace successfully made it through the house to her room.
Now, the question is, what the hell is taking him so long to come back out? It should be a simple transaction. Get in. Get out. Without a view of every single room in the house, it’s impossible to tell where he or Booker are. None of the current camera feeds show them.
“Sarge, this is Klaw. We’re just on the other side of the wash. We can see the house. Want us to move in?”
Three of the groups are now in position, which means the other two can’t be far off.
“Hold your position. Wait for the others to join us,” I tell him. My nerves are buzzing through my body. This is it. We’re so close to crashing through those front doors, I can almost taste it.
Signaling to Bear and Wolf, they join Giz and me in the shade of the tree.
“Don’t know what’s taking Ace so long, but I think we should move. Take out the guards now.”
Gizmo’s eyes flick up toward me, though he keeps his head directed at the computer.
“You sayin’ we should change the plan?” Wolf asks. “What if it puts our man inside at risk?”
My gaze drops to the sandy dirt beneath me. He has a point. Moving now could put Ace in the crosshairs, but every second spent waiting feels like I’m personally prolonging Hannah’s nightmare. I’m ready to get her home.
“We’ll hit hard and fast. We already have them outnumbered, and once these outside guards are down, they’ll be even more overpowered.”
Speaking the words out loud solidifies my belief in the plan’s success. This is the first moment of peace I’ve felt since she went missing. I know we’re making the right choice.
“You know I’m with you no matter what you decide to do,” Wolf says as he sharpens his knife against a stone. “If this were my Ol’ lady, I’d want her the fuck out of there too. You just tell us what you need.”
Looking at Giz and Bear, they both give a silent nod in agreement. Alright. Now it’s just a matter of filling in the rest of the guys. It’s time to get Hannah the fuck out of here.
“Everyone, this is Sarge. Change of plans,” I say into the radio.
“We’re moving now. Bear, Wolf, and I will take out the exterior guards.
Gizmo hangs back to monitor the feeds and give us updates if something changes.
Once the guards are down, I need everyone else ready to move on the house.
Take out anyone who isn’t female or Ace. Got it?”
Confirmation from all five groups comes through before I signal Wolf and Bear to move.
We sprint to the stucco pillars. Bear takes the guard on the left, while Wolf hits the one in the center, and I take the right.
We stay still for a moment, watching the house for any sign we’ve been detected, but there’s nothing. Good.
Turning back, I nod to Gizmo. He triggers the remote-controlled gate, and it hums open. We flank the entrance, moving from vehicle to vehicle for cover as we approach the house. Still, no sound comes from inside. This might be easier than we thought, but I’d rather be overprepared than under.
Approaching the front door, my hand reaches for the knob. Against all odds, it turns. These assholes have gotten so cocky thinking no one would dare to mess with them.
Guess I’m no one.
We step through the threshold, keeping our backs to the walls. Wolf moves to the base of the stairs while I sweep a room to the right filled with empty, high-end seating. Bear moves to the left of the doorway and gives the all-clear. It is too quiet in here. Where the hell is everyone?