Page 61 of Croatia Collateral

Stains marred the white stucco, and tiles were missing from the roof. Though the hotel was abandoned and in disrepair, it must have been a beauty at some time. Old bougainvillea vines covered some walls in bright magenta flowers, a throwback to more prosperous times.

The hotel was a multi-level complex clinging to the side of the hill with views from every section.

The teams split up and slipped into the darkened complex, looking for lights or sentries guarding certain buildings.

Starting at the top, they spread out and worked their way through buildings.

Giva and Dax entered the original reception building with its tall ceilings and modern architecture, now covered in graffiti with plants growing through cracks in the floors. Starlight streamed through what had once been glass walls but now were open arches, allowing the elements free reign.

After a quick search of the building, they didn’t see anything or anyone that would indicate the presence of the Nexus Collective or an array of computers poised to deliver a fatal blow to one of the largest port cities in China.

“This place is massive. It’ll take too long to search every building,” Dax said. “Maas had to have driven vehicles into the complex. If we find their cars, they have to be nearby.”

Moments later, Fearghas's voice sounded in Giva’s ear. “Cars parked on the third level down. This area appears to have been the office complex and one of the main entertainment facilities. There are a couple of guards standing in the shadows at an entrance.”

“Coming,” Dax said.

He and Giva had already moved to the second level, hurrying through, looking for vehicles or people.

From her perch a level up, Giva paused and listened. The faint hum of an engine rumbled in the night. “Do you hear that?”

Dax nodded, grabbed her hand, and hurried down the driveway to the third level.

They found Fearghas and Atkins at the corner of a building. The guards Fearghas had reported leaned against the wall, their rifles pointed downward.

“Yellowstone and Montana in position at the opposite end of the target building.”

“Cover me,” Dax said. Before Giva could stop him, he slipped around the corner. With his back to the wall, clinging to the shadows, he eased toward the guards.

Giva scooped up a couple of rocks from the ground and followed Dax, placing each foot carefully to avoid making a sound. Overgrown bushes and vines helped to conceal their approach from the guards.

When they were as close as they could get without being seen, Dax stopped.

Giva took his hand and placed the rocks in his palm. “Distract them,” she whispered, tucked the pistol into her waistband and bent to retrieve the knives from her ankle sheath. She eased around Dax for a better position, holding the blade of one of the knives between her fingertips at the ready—a second blade balanced in her other hand.

Giva focused, remembering all the practice she’d put in, perfecting her aim. The small knives wouldn’t necessarily kill the target, but sticking one in the right place would distract a guard—hopefully long enough for Dax and her to move in, disarm and neutralize them without too much noise.

Dax stood for a moment, unmoving. Then, as if making up his mind, he said, “We have to get inside.” He threw the stones into the overgrown garden area in front of the guards.

The sound made both men jerk to attention and move forward.

Giva flung the knife, aiming for the farthest man’s face. The blade stuck in the man’s cheek.

The man cried out, dropped his weapon and clawed at the blade embedded in his cheek.

When his partner turned toward him to see what was wrong, Giva launched another blade, aiming for the back of the second guy’s neck. It missed, sinking into the man’s shoulder.

Dax sprinted past Giva. She followed close behind, a third knife in hand.

The second guard yelped and spun toward Dax, one hand holding his rifle, the other reaching over his shoulder for the cause of his pain. By the time he spotted Dax, it was too late for him to raise his rifle.

Dax flew into him like a linebacker going in for the tackle. He hit him with enough force to knock him backward into his partner, sending them both sprawling across the concrete.

With his rifle trapped between himself and Dax, the guard couldn’t reach the trigger. Dax had him pinned with his forearm pressed hard against his neck, cutting off air to his lungs.

The other man fought to free his arms from beneath the guard on top of him. He stretched out a hand, straining to reach the submachine gun he’d thrown to the ground. His fingers were mere inches from the weapon when Giva threw herself at him, plunging the knife into his throat.

He grabbed her throat with his free hand and squeezed hard.

---