Page 87 of August

“Look,” August said, looking at Toth then Rami, “I appreciate the distraction and all, but if you both don’t close your lips and focus on getting us there, Gigi might not live. You realize that, right?”

“Easy.” Rami slid him a glance, his blue eyes glittering with menace. “We’re here with you for the long haul. Gigi’s coming home. I fucking promise you that.”

August shook his head solemnly, wishing he could take his friend’s word for it. “You can’t promise anything.”

The flow of traffic was almost dizzying to August’s battered senses. Every mile felt like a goddamn marathon. His chest ached as if a wire were twisting and cinching around his main artery.

Toth leaned forward. “No, but you’ve got a team willing to risk their lives to make sure she comes out of this. Alvarez is still angry and wants to stir the pot. He knows that if he touches Gigi, he’ll have hell to pay. We killed the previous leader of the trafficking ring when he went after Ivy. Alvarez just wants to prove his rank.”

August’s stomach churned. “And he’ll make an example out of Gigi.” The thought of what Alvarez could be doing to her right now made bile heat his esophagus. They were on borrowed time. “Drive faster.”

His friend didn’t say anything, and was already traveling fast, but he sped up. When all this was over, he’d thank Rami and Toth. Not now. Right now, all he could do was survive minute to minute. Second to second. And hope to hell his heart didn’t explode before they reached the Radcliffes’ place.

The GPS instructed them to take the next exit. They’d arrive in a few long-ass minutes. Turning off the highway, Rami steered the vehicle toward one of the upscale ends of the city. The road stretched long and winding, and thick trees surrounded large properties set back far from the street.

“His property will be gated,” Toth noted calmly.

Rami chortled. “As if a gate would keep anyone out.”

“No shit.” August rubbed his thumb over the handle of his gun, the cool steel giving him only a small amount of comfort.

They drove a little further, and the phone announced that their destination was on the right. August got rid of the annoying voice and Rami pulled over on a dirt road parallel to the trees that lined the senator’s property.

Rami loaded his weapon. “You got the drone?” he asked Toth.

Toth was already opening the hatch. The drone was a necessary piece of equipment for any kind of extraction or mission where they were going in blind.

“Yup.” The little machine fired up and Toth sent it high, navigating with a tablet. “We’re about a hundred yards from the house.”

Good. Less than five minutes on foot. August shoved the Glock in his waistband and then grabbed his AR-15. The feeling of the heavy metal in his palms filled him with deep satisfaction.

If this thing didn’t scare the shit out of Radcliffe, nothing would.

Rami passed August a small earbud, and he tucked it in place. Rami did the same and held on to Toth’s while Toth scoped out the area.

“I see four guards outside. Not sure how many are inside, but my guess is the same or fewer.”

“Not bad odds,” Rami said.

Toth brought back the drone, and the metallic spider buzzed as it lowered. He quickly packed up the machine and tossed Rami and August Tasers from a bag in the back. He kept one for himself. Taking the earpiece from Rami, he jerked his head. “Let’s move.”

Armed to the teeth, they trekked through the pine trees. Twigs snapped, and they swatted low-lying branches out of the way as they moved swiftly toward the senator’s home.

Keeping his gaze high for cameras, August vibrated with tension. Coming in like this, they might be met with gunfire. They had to be ready for whatever went down. Radcliffe was surely shaken and heavily staffed.

The house came into view. An eight-foot wrought iron gate surrounded the grounds.

“There.” August pointed to a rotating camera above the covered patio. After quickly slipping his weapon through the bars, August grasped the metal and hauled himself over. Rami and Toth did the same. Tall cedar and spruce trees lined the fence, keeping them hidden from the camera and anyone who might look in their direction from the house.

Rami brought his finger to his ear. “Test.”

His voice rasped in August’s head. Both August and Toth gave a nod of acknowledgment. “You go west,” August instructed Rami quietly. “You east,” he said to Toth. “And I’ll get the fucker securing the back.”

Toth gave him a hard stare. “Don’t kill anyone if you can help it. Tase and restrain. Let’s get in and out without landing our asses in jail before you can get to Gigi.”

August gave one nod. “Copy that.”

He’d restrain himself until Gigi was safe. After that, he’d slaughter every bastard who’d hurt her.

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