Chapter 29
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
ELVIS WASN’T SURE HOW far behind Matteo and his men they were. All he knew was that Dane couldn’t drive fast enough and Elvis pressed his right foot into the floorboard of the SUV as if he could make the car go faster.
Leon’s tough guy exterior lasted only as long as it took for Elvis to round the table and yank his ass out of that metal chair, almost snapping his wrists which were still handcuffed to the ring in the middle of the table.
And Elvis would have delivered the blow without a second thought, except that marshal had barged in, telling him they cracked the security on the man’s phone.
They knew where they were taking Delaney. Or so they hoped.
He dropped the man into the chair as he spun on the marshal. “Where?”
“Hilliard, ten to fifteen miles past the state line about eighteen miles west of I-95. It’s a private estate on the St. Marys River. Some shell company’s on the deed, but it’s Matteo’s. FBI have been watching it for years.”
Elvis slammed his palms down on the table. “The only way you help yourself now is by giving me all the information I need to get onto that estate. How many men are with him? How many at the estate? What’s the security like?”
Cochran had stepped in, pulling Elvis back from Leon. “I’ll get that. Right now. I think your team needs to get on the road. I’ll call for backup to meet you there.”
Elvis didn’t need to be told twice.
He hopped in Dane’s SUV while Gage and Grim left from the hospital, swinging by to pick up Blaze on the way. They didn’t bother tracking whoever took Delaney from the hospital, deciding the best course would be to head straight for Matteo. Whoever had taken her would take her to Serrano’s son.
It didn’t take long before the team found themselves down the street from the Serrano Estate, huddling around the back of Dane’s SUV.
The back hatch was up, and Blaze stood in the middle, his laptop up as he tapped into the satellite imagery.
The estate was a sprawling riverfront property set back from the eastern edge of St. Marys, behind a gated access road.
The main house appeared large and pale against the tree line.
A dock extended into the dark water like a finger pointing an accusing finger.
Elvis stood there with impatience forcing him to clench and unclench his fists.
Gage stood on one side of Blaze, with Dane on the other, and Grim leaned on the side of the SUV, simply watching, his arms over his chest. It had taken them a while to get to Blaze, making sure the doctor checked Grim out before they left so they suffered no surprises on the road.
Grim had barely said a word and could barely look at Elvis now, blaming himself for Delaney’s abduction.
However, Elvis knew the blame laid at his own feet. He never should have left her side.
Elvis had tried to get the man to sit this one out, but Grim had merely shaken his head with a look that ended the conversation before it could progress.
He refused to be left behind. Elvis had merely nodded, letting the matter drop.
He would have been the same way. Hell, he was just a few weeks ago when people kidnapped Meaghan from the side of the road while Gage and he were supposed to watch out for her.
They stood, staring at the screen as Blaze walked them through the layout of the property, pointing to the important points as the afternoon light outside the structure moved toward evening.
Time continued to pass as it always did, not caring that his world had exploded.
Time had a schedule to keep, and there was no pause button to be found.
“From what I can tell,” Blaze said, still pointing at the screen, “coming in from the river is the best approach. They have security cameras on the main gate as well as the front of the house. Fewer on the back. I can kill those, run a loop through them, so they don’t see you coming.
” He pointed to a slight rise of the ground just to the south of the property.
“Someone should be here acting as overwatch. It possesses the best line of sight.”
Gage glanced at Grim, knowing the man would want to be boots on the ground, and there was no way Elvis would be left behind. “I got it.”
Blaze gave a curt nod and then turned to the others.
“The rest of you come in from the river. There’s a barrier wall twenty yards from the main house for decoration, but it’ll grant you some cover.
” He glanced over at Dane. “I’ll grant you all some time, then move the SUV in front of the gate.
” He shrugged. “It’s the only road in or out, so it’ll stop the flow of traffic from the estate in case they try to take her off property. ”
Dane simply nodded, his hands in his pockets.
“Dane and I will take the east side of the house,” Elvis said, taking over the details. “Grim, you come out on the west.” He glanced around at the others. “I don’t care what happens to Matteo, but Delaney’s walking out of that place. That’s the only option.”
No one argued with him.
Blaze stepped back, arms over his chest. “This place has two floors, each segmented into two wings. Where do you think we should start our search? I can pick up heat signatures all over that place, a mixture of male and female from what I can tell, which isn’t much help.”
Dane picked up the tablet, his brow furrowed as he studied the image.
“He’ll want to keep her away from whoever isn’t in the know, but he’ll also want her accessible without having to go through all kinds of hallways to get to her.
” He dropped into silence for a bit as he stared at the screen.
Then he gave a curt nod and pointed. “Here. It’s toward the back of the house, away from the drive.
It’ll be quieter. This other wing looks like it’s the main house.
Probably got family there, people he doesn’t want involved. ”
Elvis nodded, keeping his eyes on the screen. “Makes the most sense to me.”
“Then that’s where we go,” Dane said, his voice full of confidence.
Blaze glanced around at them as he took the tablet from Dane.
“All right. You all head down the riverbank while I get the security cameras on a loop. By the time you reach that dock, I’ll have everything set.
It’ll also give Gage time to get in place.
Just let me know when you want me to block the front gate. ”
“If we send him in just before we head in from the river, it might draw their attention away from us for a bit.” Grim looked around at them for agreement, arms still over his chest.
“Smart,” Dane said, and then he patted Blaze’s back. “Get the loop set and then get closer. When I give the signal, you park that thing right against the gate.”
Blaze grinned as he moved to the side of the SUV. “Now that sounds like fun.”
“Just be careful,” Dane said as he motioned the others to follow him.
Elvis sighed before he followed Dane. It was time to take care of business and get his girl back.
Grim stepped up beside him, glancing over briefly. “You know, back in the day, you usually said some silly Elvis Presley quote or song lyric before we started an op.”
“Did I?” Elvis kept his focus on the ground in front of them.
“Yeah, you did,” Gage said. “Every single time. So, what gives now?”
Dane glanced at him, the corner of his mouth quirked in a smirk. “Let’s not jinx the op. Give us something.”
He was quiet for a moment as they walked, the cool breeze coming off the river tousling his hair.
He felt a great weight in his chest as he thought of the men beside him, thought of Hawk who was at Obsidian Analytics, and Sage and the other ladies back at headquarters in Biloxi.
He wouldn’t be who he was without them, wouldn’t be there right then about to rescue the love he had thought he’d lost.
“I know we stand by each other,” he said, his throat catching with his emotions as he forced the words out. “And I’d just like to say, ‘Thank ya, thank ya very much,’ for everything.”
Dane glanced at him, a small smile turning up his lips, as Gage hit him on the back. “Now we got success.”
As soon as they stepped into the river, Elvis felt the icy feeling that shocked his body.
This wasn’t the cold of northern rivers or lakes.
No, this was Florida water, which ran deep and shaded, fed by springs that really didn’t care what time of year it was.
The faint sweetness of cypress filled the air as it stained the water.
They remained in the river to stay hidden by the trees, but hugged the bank as much as they could.
The last of the evening light dipped down into the horizon, casting even darker shadows that would mask their approach. This time of night was great for moving without being seen, which was exactly what they needed right now.
Dane took the lead and Grim brought up the rear, leaving Elvis pinned between them. Elvis cut a quick glance over his shoulder, but Grim merely nodded, a rage burning behind his eyes. He wanted revenge as much as Elvis did.
They moved slowly, making sure their footing was sure before putting weight on it, the soft mud of the river bottom quite often unsure. Elvis kept his gaze fixed on the pale shape of the estate’s eastern side, which became more defined the closer they got to the dock.
And then they were there, sooner than expected, but much longer than Elvis wanted.
They eased out of the river, water dripping from their pant legs and boots.
They kept an eye out for exposed roots as they moved through the river grass with slow movements that left no sound nor any ripples as they approached.
He stepped up beside Dane with Grim a step behind him.
All three of them hid in the tree line, weapons down as they ran their gazes over the property in the failing light.
There was about forty yards of open lawn between the river and the house’s rear terrace.
They’d be exposed except for a brick wall running along the back of the property.
Dane looked at each of them. “We ready?”
Elvis and Grim both nodded.
Dane glanced back at the house and hit his earpiece. “Blaze, head for the gate. Make sure that loop is on. We’re heading in.”
“You’re good. I can’t keep people from spotting you if they’re out there, but I can keep their cameras ignorant. Good luck.”
Elvis glanced up at the wide expanse of grass that stretched between them and Delaney. “There’s only one light on. Seems strange.”
He glanced at the others. “No one gets out.”
Grim nodded. “Let’s go get your girl.” He headed to the western side of the house while Elvis and Dane headed for the lit window.
As they moved, Gage’s voice came through their earpieces. “All right. I got you guys covered. So far, there’s no one moving around back there.”
The estate seemed quieter than Elvis had expected, but then again, he was sure Matteo wanted little noise to attract attention.
Dane and he moved through the eastern tree line and came up against the house’s river face.
They strolled past dark ground-floor windows until they reached the only lit room in the entire house.
They came to a stop when they noticed a man on the rear terrace, a cigarette dangling from his lips. The man slouched against a wall, showing no signs that he was guarding anything. Dane slipped up onto the terrace and took the man out without a sound.
Elvis slipped the door open and eased inside just as they heard a commotion at the front of the house. A horn started blaring in the night, and Blaze filled their ears. “Man, it’s like hornets heading this way. They are fast! Make your move!”
Elvis would have laughed at any other time.
Inside, the house seemed quiet, too quiet for what he knew was happening inside. They had entered what appeared to be a kitchen, and he led them to the side hall toward the room with the light, Dane right behind him.
He glanced back at Dane. “I don’t like this. It’s too quiet.”
“Too late to worry about it now. Just keep your head on a swivel.
Elvis nodded, but the entire thing still felt off to him. This house wasn’t empty, even though it felt that way. He needed to remember that.
He moved through the hallway, ignoring the family portraits of criminals on the wall. Then a man stepped out of a door just a few feet ahead of them.
The confrontation was fast, the man jerking his arm up, weapon in hand. Elvis swung, and the gun went up but didn’t go off. He swung his leg, knocking the man on his ass. Dane was right there with zip ties.
“All right, so not empty,” he said.
They both looked at each other and nodded before moving on.
A couple of seconds later they came across a second man outside the main sitting room. Elvis froze, trying to figure out the best way to get past him when Grim appeared out of the door behind the guy, wrapping his arm around his neck in a chokehold.
That made two down.
And under the door a light lit the floor.
He stood, taking a slow breath as he reached for the doorknob, weapon in hand. He leaned against the door, but couldn’t hear anything from inside.
He glanced back at Dane, who merely nodded.
Elvis held up his hand. One finger. Two. Three.
And he kicked the door open.
But the room was empty.
In the middle was an overturned chair with ropes dangling from the arms. The lights were on, but no one was inside. And opposite the door, a window stood open, curtains blowing from the wind outside.