Page 102 of Protection (Mobsters + Billionaires 2)
ANTHONY
A thorough reconof the area proves Ryder’s instincts to be spot on. I nearly cry with relief, though Hopper’s reaction is a little more…intense.
“You ever need a transplant, Ryder-girl, and I’ll find the healthiest matching asshole and bring you his organs.”
“Don’t call me a girl. And…thanks, Hop. That means a lot.”
Charlie and I look at each other and just shake our heads.
We find an outcropping in the hills above the compound, about a quarter-mile out. We set the little guy, Rafi, with one of Luca’s guys as the lookout.
Speaking of the man, I insisted that Luca stay at the hotel, and he steadfastly refused. I saw in his expression the same thing I saw when my mom had been arrested and he refused to let me try to survive on my own.
I knew it was foolish to argue.
We’re running quiet tonight with silenced weapons, knives, and in the case of Olga, vicious-looking steel batons.
We all verify our comms, and then Rafi’s soft voice comes over the line.
“Alright, everyone, we’ve got four buildings in the compound—the main house, the stables, what appears to be servants’ quarters, and a barn-type structure. Two armed guards each are manning the outbuildings, three at the gate. The main house appears to have two entrances with approximately two guards each.”
“How many of them can you take out from your position?” I ask, watching Hopper sheath half a dozen knives on his person.
“I can cover the outbuildings, timed right as you breach the gates, but the light is low, and since we don’t know if or where Dr. Laghari is being held, I’d rather not shoot on the main house.”
“Agreed. And we’re one hundred percent certain we’re not killing innocent estate staff?”
“Correct,” Ryder’s voice comes through, tinny but clear. “I was able to run facial recognition from Rafi’s scope feed. Russian ex-military, every single one of them.”
“Ryder, thank you for that. This is about to get ugly. No one would blame you for dropping off comms.”
“Anthony, if you think for a second I’m letting you save Mads without me, you’ve lost your fucking mind. Respectfully.”
“Roger that.”
Sticking to the tree line, I give Rafi an update. “We’re almost in place and will give you the signal for when we’re ready to go in on the main house.”
“10-4.”
Luca, the only one not wearing tactical gear, approaches the gate in a chauffeured car, acting like a lost tourist. This draws two guards to the car, and the driver, one of his men, quietly and efficiently dispatches them.
The third guard touches his ear, only to recoil, ripping out his earpiece.
“I’ve infiltrated their comms,” Ryder says, smooth as silk.
A spray of blood from the guy’s head is the only indication that Rafi is on the job. Luca and his guy exit the car, only to be met with a nasty surprise. A fourth guard joins the party, closing the distance too quickly for Rafi to take him out.
Luca’s driver immediately puts himself between the guard and Luca. The guard, not much bigger than Mads, is stronger than he looks and manages to plunge a rather terrifying knife into the driver’s thigh. Luca produces a gun as Hopper and I race to his position, and by the time we get there, a neat black hole adorns the space between the guard’s brows.
“You okay?” I ask the driver.
Thin-lipped and sweating, he nods. “I’ll be okay. Won’t be much use to you inside though.”
“Can you stay here with the car and take out any who approach?”
He nods, and Anders comes up, huge syringe in hand.
“What the fuck is that?” I ask, recoiling from the size of the thing.
