Page 100 of Captured

“You know.” He took several gasping breaths, the man injured.

“Yeah, Axe figured it out. He purchased one of the planes and was stupid enough to do what he thought was a clandestine flight plan.”

“Fuck. I think he’s taken the house. This is a full military operation, but one of the helicopters they used was torched by our guys before they were killed. They have one that’s operational, with heavy-duty weapons. I haven’t seen Chase. Just a bunch of masked men. Satellites were taken out, the security system after that.”

This had been planned for a long time.

With Chase’s military background, it had been much easier for him to locate the island. A long time before, I’d considered exterminating the man, instead keeping him around thinking he could prove useful. I’d need to warn my brothers that the man might have directed some unwanted attention their way. This was a single mistake but one that could be more deadly than all the others I could have committed.

However, I had every intention of eliminating the issue once and for all.

“And Emily? Where the fuck is Emily?”

“She was alone at the house,” Rico said. “I was forced to send her into the woods or the girl would have been captured in the raid on the house. But she was looking for me to warn me. She knows.”

Dear God, no. The fucking woods. I hadn’t lied about the booby-traps. There were dozens of them. I scanned the area, hearing a single gunshot. “How many soldiers did you take out?”

“I don’t know. We’ve resorted to walkie-talkies, but the reports are sketchy. Maybe six or seven. But they have at least double that. What do you want to do? You know they heard the plane coming in.”

“Send at least two men to the coordinates where you sent Emily so they can take her to safety. We’re heading to the house. I will take care of the fucking bastard.” Without taking Chase and his men out, we could be sitting ducks or worse. With military helicopters, they were equipped with the kind of weapons that could take out the entire compound if they wanted. What they were looking for was Emily.

But they couldn’t have her.

At least there was a secondary secure building, but it was on the other side of the island. That had been done on purpose.

“I don’t know how many of us are left,” Rico admitted. “They have fucking cannons, for God’s sake.”

“We make do with what we have. No one is going to hurt her. And no one is taking my goddamn island. Let’s get moving.”

Axe followed us to the Jeep, all three of us jumping in. He wasted no time, taking a route that was only to be used in case of an attack. Rico had piled additional weapons into the back of the vehicle, enough to start a fucking war. There were no additional shots fired, three of remaining men already surrounding the house, two others headed into the woods to locate Emily.

Rico pulled the Jeep to the outskirts of the main house, cutting the lights and the engine. We were undoubtedly being lured like prey. That had never stopped me before. There was too much at stake and it was all about the light to my darkness, the woman I’d promised to protect and I intended on keeping that promise come hell or high water.

“Axe. Go find the other men and enter through the rear. Rico and I will head in through the fucking front door.”

“Will do. Take care of yourself, boss. You got a wedding to plan.” Axe rushed into the shadows.

“A wedding?” Rico huffed. “You leave for two days and everything changes.”

“Not everything. The damn treachery continues.”

We were very careful in our actions, the only sound that of the rain pattering against the roof and the wind blowing through the trees. Once at the front door, I glanced up at the dark camera, smirking just in case. The door was unlocked as I’d expected, allowing for easy entrance. I had a feeling the man had taken up camp inside my office.

Rico was directly behind me as we headed through the house, my Capo keeping watch on my back. The quiet was eerie as fuck, which I loathed. When we were a couple of doors away, I grinned, feeling Talon’s heated existence burning within me. I wanted this shit over within a matter of minutes. It was non-negotiable.

I kicked in the door, hopefully bringing a slight element of surprise. Whether or not I had remained to be seen, but with my high back leather office chair turned around facing the window, I wondered if the man seated knew that Axe had a clear shot and would take it if necessary.

There were four men in the room, the odds not in our favor but that had also never stopped me before.

“Hello, Chase,” I said quietly, as if I didn’t have a care in the world.

He took a full five seconds before spinning around to face me. In one hand was a Cuban cigar he’d plucked from my humidor. In the other was a brandy snifter, undoubtedly filled with my very expensive Courvoisier. That alone was grounds for termination.

After taking a couple of puffs, Chase finally addressed me, the look of amusement as if he’d won the battle already making me see red. “About time you showed up, my friend. How’ve you been? I noticed you were a busy boy taking out your worst enemies, or at least most of them. You just underestimated your most dangerous enemy.”

I wanted to laugh. He thought he was the most dangerous? It would be like child’s play to end his motherfucking life.

“You were the one who put out a hit on your buddy’s daughter. Weren’t you? What did Gideon do, piss in your Wheaties?”

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