Chapter 37
TYLER
THE DOORS OF the mansion splinter, and I trail my teams as they scatter, guns ready, half of our tactical plan already underway.
Mildly satisfied that every wing, as well as the perimeter of the estate, is surrounded, I allow a little relief when Donovan, who’s running point, barks across the line, “Conservatory clear.”
More reports of the same sound over the wire as we sweep the massive mansion, the expected bullets whizzing, the counterfire heavy.
As we approach the staircase, I notice the heaviest fire is coming from the top floor—and snap a warning over the line.
“They’re funneling us. Set charges low, cut their sightlines, and breach clean.
Move!” As my team splits, I signal the second stack to hold the stairwell and cover our asses.
“Two up, two on my six. Watch the balcony overhang, eyes on the skylight. Nest, eyes!” I bark to Russell for an update.
“Six up top, two to the right.”
“Stack left, breach right on my mark,” I order as two of my team peel off, taking the flanks. “Secondary on the mezzanine—watch for crossfire.”
Flying up the stairs, I manage to dodge a bullet just as one of my own ends the man who pulled the trigger. The moment I reach the left of Iggy’s bedroom door, a heavy blast shreds the middle.
“Door hot!” I bark.
“Command,” Donovan barks back in summons.
“A little fucking busy,” I snap, firing pointless warning shots outside the door. Knowing that on the other side of it, a truth I’m not at all eager to discover awaits me.
“Command,” Donovan snaps again, his urgency giving me pause.
One I don’t have time for. Stepping away to stalk the mezzanine to clear the dark corners for surprises, Ignacio’s fire shreds the spot I deserted a mere second before.
The sight of it both telling and damning as another warning sounds over the wire.
“Sniper! Window, top left!”
“Copy!” my team leader barks back.
Resuming my place outside the remains of the bedroom door, I bark at Russell, “Give me thermal on this fucking room!”
“Lone shooter,” Russell imparts just after, which lets me know the man on the other side has no plans of making it out of this alive.
With that in mind, I redirect the rest of my team. “Clear all side rooms, floor two, don’t overextend.”
As we pivot, backup arrives in the form of two primed for my call, just as Larissa’s plea for her brother slams into my psyche. In hearing it and picturing her face, for the first time as a career soldier, I hand over a target. “Try to take him alive.”
With their collective chins dipped in confirmation, and the layout of the mansion burned into memory, I break back down the stairs.
Racing through halls, my footing matches my thundering heartbeat as I cut corners, only skidding to a halt when I spot Donovan waiting outside a large oak door.
With the lock already soldered off, it’s his expression that says it all.
It’s then I sense the malevolent presence I have one too many times before, and I breathlessly prompt him. “Speak.”
“There are no fucking words for this,” Donovan utters before pushing the door open.