Page 15 of Rami

Odds of them getting into the compound were slim to none and odds of them getting in and out were zilch.

The rear passenger door swung open and August groaned, stretching his arms overhead. His blond hair was disheveled and his eyes bloodshot. “You boys ready or what?”

“Tasch’s going in now.” Rami nodded at the device that would do the legwork.

August nodded. “Sweet.”

Taschen sent the machine skyward, and it zoomed west toward the cartel’s property.

“How much you wanna bet it gets shot down and we give ourselves away?” August said, with a hint of amusement.

“Let’s pray that doesn’t happen.” The black metallic spider left Rami’s sight and became inaudible. “If it’s above someone, will they hear it?”

“Nope. I’ll keep it at two hundred feet. It’s military grade and as silent as your mom’s vibrator.”

“Fucker,” Rami breathed. He’d have punched him but didn’t want to risk crashing the damn thing.

A couple minutes passed and Taschen stiffened. “Found something.”

“What?”

“Some land mines.”

Rami cursed. “You sure?”

“Yup. This thing’s got ground-penetrating radar. Looks like a few surrounding the grounds on the outside of the compound and a couple around this trailer. He pointed to the image on the screen.”

“Hold up,” Rami said. “According to the coordinates, that’s where Marty’s phone has been.” He flicked his gaze to August. “She still showing up there?”

They’d checked her location every few hours, and an hour ago, her device had still been there.

August opened the app on his phone and nodded. “Still there.”

“There’re three heat sources inside the trailer. Two close together, must be in a bedroom, and one in the center, near the back.”

“One of ’em could be Ivy.” August’s voice held urgency.

“Could be,” Rami conceded. There was a chance they were on a dead trail, but the more things fell into place, the greater the likelihood they were right. And if Ivy’s body was giving off heat, then she was alive.

“Landmines?” August asked.

Taschen nodded. “There’s a few. I’ll show you.”

Rami broke away from Taschen’s side and went to the back of the van. His gaze hit the blankets they’d turned into a makeshift bed, which they’d set up in case they found Ivy. Adrenaline pounded through his body in waves and his stomach clenched.

For the last eighteen hours, he’d doubted they’d find her. Doubted more she’d be alive. Part of him was pursuing the quest just to prove to Gigi that her sister was gone. In truth, he hadn’t mentally prepared himself for the reality of finding her in one piece.

And now they might have.

August approached and put on his gear, too. While Rami and August ambushed the camper, Taschen would stay in the van to keep a lookout and ensure a quick getaway.

Rami pulled his bulletproof vest over his head, shoved his arms into a holster, and packed a gun in the leather strap and then another at the small of his back. The knife he always carried was clipped to his belt. He pulled a headlamp onto his head and tested the light on his forehead before clicking it off.

Then he slung a canteen around his neck. Ivy would likely be dangerously dehydrated.

“Got your earbuds?” Taschen called.

Rami passed two to August and tucked one into his ear. August took one to Taschen, and they did a quick round of tests while keeping the drone on their target.

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