Chapter 30
Logan sat in the passenger seat of his Ferrari, Cowboy at the wheel. A computer was open on Logan’s lap. “The house was owned by Royce’s wife. She inherited it when her parents passed away.”
“So Royce is leading us to his lair, basically,” said Cowboy.
Logan nodded. “Right.”
“Awesome.” Cowboy barely slowed down for a sharp turn.
“Jesus Cowboy, watch it.”
“If I had this car, I wouldn’t need to date your sister. I could have an orgasm just…driving.”
“Thanks so much for that visual. I still think we should call the police.”
“You might be right, but if we do, they’re not going to let us anywhere near that building. Are you ready to hand Gemma’s safety over to the men in blue?”
“Not with Royce. He’s already killed his wife. The man doesn’t have anything to lose.”
“I’m thinking that was the point. Lose her. Take all her money. Now he’s got everything he wanted.”
“Except he didn’t expect us to get in his way.”
Cowboy nodded. “Exactly.” The tires squealed as he hugged another turn.
“I don’t know what’s worse, letting you drive this thing or having Hawk pilot the bird.”
“Hawk pilot the bird. Touch base with them. See where they are.”
Logan pulled out his cell phone and called Jax. “They just landed on the other side of the property. Why’d you want them so far away?”
“I think Royce might have a special welcome set up for us at the main entrance. I don’t want him taking out the whole team.”
“I get it. So he’ll just take out us.”
“Relax, Logan. I’m not as dumb as I look, okay? He’s got a penchant for explosives, but that’s my thing. I know what I’m looking for.”
“Just remember, Gemma’s in there somewhere.”
“I didn’t forget.”
“And she’s carrying my child.”
Cowboy turned his head to look at Logan. “No shit?”
Logan pointed out the windshield. “Watch the damn road.”
“Congratulations, man. I mean you’re happy about it, right?”
“I’m a little freaked out, to be honest, but yeah. I like her a lot.”
“Always a good thing for the parents of an impending person to like each other.”
“I didn’t say she liked me.”
Cowboy pointed to an exit. “Is that my turn?”
“Yeah. Slow down.” The Ferrari slid down the off-ramp like a child’s toy on a track. “Cut the lights,” said Logan. “It’s just ahead.”
A wide mansion came into view in the distance, it’s silhouette reminding Logan of the White House.
“How are we going to find her in there?” asked Logan.
“Easy. Royce wants her to be found. The trick is to get in and get the girl without getting ourselves blown up.”
Cowboy parked the car in the woods surrounding the property. The men grabbed their packs, weapons and earpieces. “We’re going in,” said Cowboy.
“Affirmative. We’re heading in from the back of the property,” said Hawk.
Logan was holding binoculars to his eyes. His heart leaped into his chest. “I see her. Right there, in the big window to the right of the front door. She’s tied to a dining room chair. No sign of Royce.”
“That’s what I call bait. I’ve got ten bucks says we’re in for a bait ’n’ switch by the time we get up there. Come on.”
When the reached the end of the canopied forest, they stopped to regroup. “See that fire escape up the back side of the house?” Cowboy asked. “We go there. Climb up and get access to the roof, so we can get back down through a stairwell, duct, or courtyard.”
“That’s what he’s expecting us to do,” said Logan. “I say we march right up to the front door and let ourselves in.”
“Too dangerous. It’s completely lit up. We’ll be sitting ducks for this guy.”
“He would have covered the roof, Cowboy. It’s the most obvious point of entry.”
Cowboy sighed. “You want to go in the front fucking door.”
“Yes.”
“We need cover.”
Logan looked from the woods to the house. “That’s about twelve hundred yards.”
Cowboy talked into his microphone. “Hawk can you make a kill shot from twelve hundred yards?”
“I’m not a sniper, Cowboy.”
“I can do it,” said Logan.
Cowboy met his stare.
Hawk’s voice came over their earpieces. “Logan’s a better shot than I am.”
Cowboy narrowed his eyes. “Twelve hundred yards.”
“Wind out of the northwest, eight miles an hour. I can make it, Leo.” He held out his hand for the high powered rifle. “I’ve got your six.”
Cowboy put the gun in Logan’s hand and nodded his head once. “Going in the front door.”
“Right.”
Logan turned around, quickly spotting a tree he could climb for some height. By the time he got up there and turned around, Leo was gone. He pulled out his binoculars and night vision goggles, easily spotting the HERO Force men. He got into position, scanning the windows for any sign of Royce.