30. Lex
LEX
“The team is arriving now and should be in position in two minutes.” Mal hangs up his phone.
“I don’t like this. Every minute we waste, they could be hurting Rory,” Brendan says.
“If you and Dad just run in there screaming, what do you think will happen?” Liv snaps.
“Fine. How does this work then?” Brendan asks.
“We take out the guards on the perimeter and block all the doors. Liv cuts the lights. My sharpshooters will tell us where Rory is and lay cover fire. Then shoot as many Hellhounds as they can,” Mal answers.
“Make sure they know not to shot Rory,” I command.
“Or us,” Brendan adds.
“We’ll enter in teams of four. My men will take point,” Mal continues.
“Hopefully, he stays put until we come for him,” Brendan says.
“He will,” Mal says as the car finally comes to a stop, and he starts putting on a bulletproof vest before throwing me one. He holds one out to Brendan but keeps it just out of his reach. “Can I trust you to follow orders?”
“Fuck you,” Brendan growls and reaches for it, but Mal moves it back.
“I will handcuff you to the car if you can’t promise me you won’t rush off and get yourself killed.”
“Fine,” he grumbles through gritted teeth, but Mal doesn’t let him off the hook yet.
“Promise you will follow orders and not get yourself killed.”
“I will follow orders and not get myself killed.”
Mal glares but then hands him the vest, and we all climb out of the car.
“Fourteen hostiles outside. Three entrances and exits. The windows are too high for escape,” Tag supplies. I’m not sure where he’s hiding, but he’s ready to cause some serious shit.
“Fourteen confirmed,” one of Mal’s sharpshooters says.
“Teams one and two, take them out. No noise.”
“Copy,” another voice says.
“Wraith is in position.” a whispered voice comes through our earpieces. “I have eyes on Chad, but no sign of target, sir.”
“Eagle Eye is in position and also reporting no signs of the target.”
“Wait for the others to confirm,” Mal whispers. It feels like an eternity has passed before the next sniper reports in.
“Wolf is in position. I also have eyes on Chad, but no sign of the target, sir.”
“Quiet is in position.” She pauses, so I know the news isn’t good. “Target’s location is unknown.”
My heart stops. Unknown.
“Is he not here?” Brendan cries.
“It’s possible, but I doubt the Hellhounds have enough tech to re-route a location to a police station,” Liv says. “Maybe—”
“Eagle Eye has eyes on the target,” Eagle Eye says excitedly. “Northeast corner. He’s in a shipping crate four rows in.”
“Can you confirm, Quiet?” Mal asks.
“Sorry, sir. No visual—” she starts.
“Shit! They’re taking an axe to the crate, sir,” Eagle Eye cuts in.
“An axe!” Brendan shouts.
“Those fuckers are so dead,” I growl.
“I don’t have a clean shot,” Eagle Eye says.
“Don’t take the shot,” I order.
“Cutting the power should make them panic and stop attacking the crate,” Mal says, and I nod. “Alright, teams. Cutting the power in three, two, one.”
Liv presses a key, and all the lights go out. Then all hell breaks loose.
“They’re leaving the area, but Chad is staying behind,” Wraith says.
“Keep an eye on him,” Mal orders as we finally start moving toward the building.
I’m so ready to go in there. I need to see him and hold him, but what if he’s not okay?
I’ll burn this place to the ground and myself along with it. I don’t want to live in a world without him.
“Chad’s opened fire on the crate,” Quiet warns.
“Tag. Go,” Mal orders, and I can practically hear the crazy fucker grin. There’s nothing he loves more than fucking shit up. It’s a tense few minutes, but finally, we get to the side doors where my men are stacking up the bodies. There’ll be one hell of a bonfire after this.
“Tag has Chad on the ground, but he’s drawn a lot of attention,” Quiet says, updating us.
“Snipers. Fire at will,” Mal says. All four snipers copy, and the sound of rifles fill the air.
“Is Rory okay, Quiet?” I plead as the rest of my men form up in front of us.
“Not sure. I don’t see any movement from the crate— Wait! Rory just reached out and grabbed Chad’s gun.”
“Oh, thank fuck.” Our group sighs in relief.
“Alpha team. Go,” Mal commands. They break down the door and take positions before we filter in and start shooting.
Travis’s men are scared and reckless. Some of them are trying to escape, but there will be no mercy for any of them.
I’ve got three men down when Wraith’s voice comes over our comms. “I count ten more hostiles. I think one of them might be Travis.”
“Where?” Mal barks, and I shoot another one.
“Back east corner. They are definitely heading for Rory’s crate.”
“Tag,” I practically beg.
“I’m pinned down,” he grunts.
“On it,” Wraith answers.
“I’ve got a clear shot on Travis, sir,” Quiet informs me. Before I can give her permission to shoot him in the dick, he yells.
“Come on, Hart!” The gunfire stops for a minute.
“Don’t take the shot,” I order and then shout at Travis. “Give me, Rory.”
“Not a chance. I’m sure we can work this out. Share the territory. I’ll stay on my side, and you stay on yours.”
“No,” I growl.
Travis speaks up. “How about this, then? I give you Chad and Rory, and you let me and my men go.”
“No!” Chad yells weakly from somewhere.
“You gave up everything when you touched what’s mine.”
“So it’s going to be like that, then?” Travis sighs like this is some kind of annoyance to him. “I won’t go down without a fight.”
“I’m glad because I can’t wait to bash your face in.” I duck as the gunfire starts up again. “We need to get to Rory.”
Mal comes over to me while my men cover us. “Let’s secure the area. He’s safe in his crate for now.”
I want to argue, but Mal’s right. There’s too much crossfire. “Fine. Quiet?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Shoot anyone who gets near Rory’s crate.”
“Yes, sir.”
Tag lets out a war cry, and I know he’s on the move again.
“Sir. Eric is approaching Rory’s crate.” That’s good. “Should I take the shot?” she asks. It’s clear she doesn’t want to shoot one of our own, but she also doesn’t want to disobey my orders.
“No.”
He’ll protect Rory until I can get to them.
I need to feel my boy in my arms again.
Soon, baby boy.