Page 23 of Unlocked

A large stage has been set up on the beach between two long boardwalks that lead from the streets to the beach. This is where the majority of the crowd will be. The Brotherhood’s plans had indicated they will place a bomb under each boardwalk, one near the stage and final one on the street where the crowd would flee to get away from the beach.

People are everywhere. Couples walking hand in hand, smiling. Children are running toward the beach and laughing. We really need to consider evacuating the area. So many people could be injured or killed if the Brotherhood carries out their nefarious plans. However an evacuation would alert them that we are on to them.

Scanning the area, I don’t see any sign of the men from the video. I make my way to the beach still looking for any sign of Shelby or Marley, but I’m left feeling disappointed.What did I really think? That they would just appear out of nowhere, andI would be the hero to save the day?I shake my head just about the time I receive a text alert from my phone.

Luke:We are here. Active your comms. You should have an email with the schematics of where everyone will be stationed.

Me:Will do, checking email now.

I retrieve the small discreet device from my front pocket, flick the switch to activate it, then place it in my left ear. Opening my app, I see the email from Kelvin. I see I’m supposed to be back on the street. I double back. Conversations begin to flow through the comms.

“I have eyes on Jones.” Enos announces.

“Do you have eyes on the assets?” I question immediately, knowing I’m stepping on Luke’s toes as team leader. I pick up my pace, hoping to catch sight of my sweet girl. I need to get her away from the bastards sooner rather than later.

“Negative,” Enos reports. “Jones just exited a dark sedan. He’s scanning the area, head on a swivel.”

“Everyone hold your positions,” Luke demands. I clench my fists. I know he is wanting to keep from alerting The Brotherhood of our presence, but I’m not sure I will be able to contain myself when I see Jones. The bastard had a hand in taking my woman. I won’t be forgiving when I lay eyes on him. He’s a dead man walking.

“A large black van has joined Jones,” Enos relates. “Two males have just stepped out of the van, and Kristen is getting out of the sedan.” I wait in anticipation for Enos to say more. I have almost reached the street. “They are moving down the street. The men have Kristen in the middle like they are escorting her. I think this is their trial run. I don’t think they have the women with them.” Disappointment floods me as I watch the men stroll past me with Kristen in tow. Other members of the team call in locations as the group makes their way to the boardwalk and eventually head down under another boardwalk further downthe beach. I trail them at a safe distance making notes on the places they stop. I watch them closely and come to a conclusion that I wish wasn’t the truth.

“It seems this is their practice run,” I inform everyone over the comm. “I believe they are practicing securing their targets to the places they want to leave their weapons. It seems they are working out the timing for securing all of them.”

“Fuck!” Luke exclaims angrily. “We need to follow them, if at all possible, when they leave. We have to hold out hope they will lead us to the women.” My shoulders sag as it hits me. We aren’t getting the girls back today. Even if we manage to follow them, the team will want to formulate a plan before we breech their base.Fuck!I agree with Luke. Hurrying back to where I’d parked the SUV, I get into position to give chase when I see the sedan and black van pull out into traffic. We follow them several miles, but the vehicles split up and we lose them in all the traffic. My heart is aching when I realize yet another night will pass with Shelby and Marley at the mercy of these bastards who have no mercy in them.

The next afternoon,we are once again set up around the Pier. The crowd is even larger than yesterday. I’m really concerned about the sheer numbers of people we will need to evacuate if we can’t stop the Brotherhood from placing their explosive devices.

“I have eyes!” Enos announces over comms. “They have pulled Shelby from the back of the van.”

“Is she okay?” I demand, heading in the direction of where Enos is set up. “I’m headed in!” I inform the group, not wanting to be shot by one of my own.

“Bo, stand down!” Luke yells before asking, “What about Marley?”

“Fuck!” I exclaim. “We need to get her away from them!” I can’t believe my brother is expecting me to stand back while Shelby is led to her death.Fuck that!I will get her away from them no matter the cost to myself.

“Hold up, Bo.” Enos joins the conversation in a much calmer tone than either of us has used thus far. I slow my pace to hear what he has to say. “No sign of Marley. It looks like they might have a vest on Shelby. She’s wearing a very bulking looking blouse. Shit! There are wires hanging out the back of her top. They definitely have a device of some sort on her. I can’t tell what type, though. Be patient.”

“Fuck!” I whisper again, despair shooting through me. She must be so scared. I can’t imagine the horrors she’s had to endure. I need to get her away and get that damn vest off her.

“How does she look?” I ask, forcing a calm that I don’t feel. I need to be focused so I can get my girl away from them unharmed.

“She’s walking.” Is all Enos replies. I frown at his vague response.

“What the fuck does that mean, Enos?” I rage, unable to believe that’s all he has said. “You have eyes on her. Does she look injured?”

“You aren’t going to like what I have to say, and we don’t need you barreling in there until we can assess the device they have on her,” Enos says. I growl in response. “They are moving Shelby down the street,” Enos continues. “Headed South.” I alter my course to intercept them. I dart my head out around the corner and catch sight of the group headed my way. One of the Arabic men is in the way. I can’t get a good look at Shelby. I duck back behind the wall of the building and wait for them to pass.

Seconds later, which feels like years, the group passes me. I grit my teeth and clench my fists to keep from raging at the sight before me. Shelby has been beaten severely. Her beautiful face bruised and swollen. One eye is completely swollen shut. I clench my fist as I take in Jones next to her, walking as if he isn’t leading my sweet girl to her death. Shelby’s head is down, and the one eye she has open doesn’t seem to be focused on anything. Jones and another man are holding on to her upper arms, leading her where they want her to go. I’m not sure she’s even aware of where she’s at, and that worries me more than the bruising and swelling of her face.

I ease out onto the street after they’ve passed. I keep out of sight while I follow them. I had plenty of practice during my years as a SEAL. I am a master at trailing a suspect. It’s why my call sign was POD, Prince of Darkness, because once I was in the zone, no one would know I was around until I wanted them to know I was there.

The others continue to speak over the comm, but I’m focused on the group in front of me. Shelby is my sole focus. I will get her away from these men and out of that fucking bomb so help me or we will leave this world together. The group turns onto a boardwalk. I drop over the side of the boardwalk to wait. From what I’ve heard over the chatter of the comms, the others took Marley under their boardwalk. I anticipate these fuckers will do the same. I double time it to the stairs where Jones should bring Shelby down to beach level.

I’ve secured my hiding place behind a large rock and recovered my breathing when I see Jones come around the stairs. He drags Shelby under the boardwalk, heading to a pillar supporting the structure. One of the Arabic men with him falls behind, which only makes my job easier. I ease up behind him on silent feet. A well-placed blow to the head and the man drops like a rock. I drag his body behind the large rock where I’ve beenwaiting on them. I quickly zip tie his hands behind his back and secure his feet before stuffing a gag in his mouth. I peer over the rock to see Jones and the other man tying Shelby to the pillar.

Jones is focused on his task. The other Arabic man looks around seeming to notice his companion is missing. He walks in my direction hesitantly. I wait impatiently for him to get close enough. Finally he rounds the rock. His eyes widen when he sees his buddy unconscious and tied up. I make quick work of rendering him unconscious before he can alert Jones to my presence. I tie him up next to his friend. Now to take out Jones. I drop to my belly, crawling from the left side of the rock and around another pillar, slowly making my way toward Jones. He still has his back to me.

I raise up behind him, taking him in a choke hold. He struggles, but I have no intention of simply knocking him out like I did the other two. I want him to know he has lost this battle before he loses consciousness. “Welcome to hell, you bastard,” I growl in his ear as I tighten my hold on him. He struggles all the more, but I can feel the fight leaving him, slowly. He is getting weaker from the lack of oxygen. It doesn’t take long before his body relaxes as he loses consciousness. His head dropping to the side. I consider continuing to deny him air until he is dead, but I won’t risk going to prison. My sweet girl is going to need me after the hell she’s been through. I release him, watching in disgust as he drops to the ground. I tie him up quickly before moving over to my girl.

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