Page 57 of SEAL Ever After

“There’s no other movement that’s shown on the new imagery, but as you know, we don’t have drones in the air down there. These were taken thirty minutes ago, but we’re in the dark at the moment.”

“Understood,” Ryan said.

An old pickup truck pulled to the side of the road in the distance to let them race by, and Ryan’s gaze tracked it for a moment as it pulled into a field. Hell. It had been years since he’d been on a mission. Years since he’d sat with men on an op, weapon in hand, gear on as they prepared to breach an enemy compound.

It was equally nerve-wracking running an op from base though.

“ETA is one minute,” Evan said over the headsets.

Adrenaline pumped through his veins, and Ryan shifted in his seat, readying to exit the Humvee and rush in. He could practically feel the energy and testosterone filling the air. “Matthew and Evan, you’ll watch the perimeter while we breach the compound,” Ryan commanded. “The Mexican military will be entering the plantation with us, and we’ll spread out and search. Ice will lead one group, and I’ll head the other.”

“Roger that; we’re right behind you,” Matthew drawled.

The Humvee rolled to a stop, and the men jumped from the vehicles, jogging toward the doors of the plantation. Ryan gripped his assault rifle, scanning the perimeter as the team moved forward. The Mexican military members began yelling at some men standing around near the parked cars, who quickly scattered.

“Damn it,” Patrick said into his headset. “I hope they’re not alerting the others.”

“Well it’s too late now,” Matthew drawled. “We’re already here.”

“We’ll search the house first,” Ryan ordered. “If nothing turns up, then we’ll move to the surrounding area.”

“Roger that,” came the replies.

The Mexican military members smashed through the front door of the large plantation house, bursting inside. A woman screamed, and Ryan looked to the left, seeing two older Mexican women hurrying off. Three members of the Mexican military followed after them.

Ryan nodded to the stairs, and Patrick and his men hustled up.

Ryan met Brent and Christopher’s gazes. “Let’s search the basement,” he said, and they rushed toward the stairs leading down. “The main level seems an unlikely holding spot. Hell. Maybe we should’ve brought Mike down here.” As the medic on the team, Mike could quickly provide medical attention should Sarah or any other kidnapping victims be in grave danger. They’d all been trained in field medicine though.

“What the fuck is this place?” Brent asked, the flashlight on his helmet lighting up chains on the cellar walls as he led the way down.

“A goddamn dungeon,” Ryan spat out.

They passed a pair of handcuffs hanging on another wall, and Ryan’s chest tightened. They’d been trafficking women here. Holding them prisoner until they sold them. He wanted to vomit thinking of Sarah in this Godforsaken place.

“Hello!” Brent shouted from his lead in the front.

His voice echoed in the hall, and the men paused, weapons ready. Ryan’s heart thumped. Would they even find Sarah alive down here? Were they too late to save her?

“Help!” a female voice weakly replied. “Help me.”

Ryan’s heart raced, and he pushed past the others, bursting into the first room they came upon. A frail-looking blonde woman was lying on the ground, ropes around her wrists and ankles. Brent rushed forward, reassuring her, as Ryan’s gaze swept the room.

There was a chain on the wall but nothing else there. No one else.

“It’s all right,” Brent said gruffly. “We’re U.S. military and are here to save you.”

“I’m an American,” she said faintly. Brent pulled his K-BAR knife free and knelt down, slicing the ropes at her ankles, trying to calm her as she trembled.

“What’s your name?” he asked. “I’ll get your hands free.”

“Alyssa.”

Ryan spoke quietly into his headset, notifying the others. “We found a woman being held prisoner down in the cellar. We’re bringing her with us. No sight of Sarah.”

“You’re safe now,” Christopher assured the scared woman. “We were here looking for another American, but we’ll take you with us and get you medical attention. Are you hurt?”

“Yes,” Alyssa whimpered.

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