Page 36 of Hurting Hunter
From the other end of the line, Ethan’s deep rumbling laughter came through. “I’m glad we got that out of the way. Now, go save the girl and take care of yourself in the progress. If you get hurt, I will beat that epic ass.”
“Only when I get hurt?”
Ethan just laughed before disconnecting the phone, and Hunter found himself grinning, despite the direness of the situation.
After ending his phone call with Hunter, Ethan’s mirth died down quickly. He paced the confines of his living room. With each step the restless frustration brewing inside him grew closer to a boiling point. The ankle monitor clung to his leg as a constant reminder of his forced confinement. How he wished he could take action alongside Hunter, aiding and protecting him.
Glancing out the window, he checked his phone for the tenth time in as many minutes. Kevin should have arrived at Slate’s apartment by know.
Ethan had never felt this helpless in his entire life. He needed to do something, anything. Tapping the screen, he called Dani.
“Ethan.” Her voice was calm.
"Hey," Ethan started. "Hunter has cracked it. He found the mole inside the ECOs."
There was a brief pause. "That’s incredible news. Good work. I'm almost ready to wrap this up on my end too," she responded. "I’ve been in touch with Brock Green. He’s linked me up with some of his FBI contacts. They're gearing up as we speak—should be here within the hour."
Ethan nodded to himself, though Dani couldn’t see. "That’s good, really good," he murmured, trying to anchor his swirling thoughts. "Keep me posted, okay?"
"Will do. Hang tight. We’re close," Dani assured him before they ended the call.
As the connection dropped, Ethan tossed his phone onto the couch, sinking down beside it. He raked a hand through his hair. The weight of his own helplessness settled over him like a thick blanket. He wasn’t used to handing over the control.
He glanced at the ankle monitor, then out the window, where the world moved freely beyond his grasp. Now, all he could do was wait, trust in Kevin’s abilities, Brock’s FBI contacts and hope that everything they’d set in motion would converge to bring this nightmare to an end.
His gaze lingered on the street below, but his mind was miles away.
Chapter 25
Before leaving Slate’s apartment, Hunter pulled Rex aside. With a few words he brought the young prospect up to date with the details of their imminent mission to rescue Aubrey. Once he was sure Rex understood what their task entailed, he called Brick. Their President agreed to call off the search and send the men to Hunter’s home. He would head into the hospital.
The drive was a silent, contemplative journey across Seattle. The city lights blurred past as they transitioned from the dense urban core to the more secluded, opulent neighborhood that Hunter called home. As they entered the area, characterized by sprawling plots and privacy that the city’s core lacked, Rex let out a low whistle, his eyes widening at the sight of Hunter’s well-appointed residence nestled behind a discreetly elegant gate.
“And you accuse me of making too much money,” Rex joked, giving Hunter a playful jab to lighten the mood.
“Huh?” Hunter, momentarily pulled from his thoughts, glanced over and struggled to understand what Rex was saying. “Oh, right.” He shrugged, the corners of his mouth twitching upwards. “Skilled programmers are paid well. Plus, I’ve had some lucky breaks.” His tone was nonchalant, but his mind was already racing ahead to the tasks that awaited them. He used his remote control to open the double garage doors and switched on the light.
Kevin, who Hunter instantly recognized as he man from the performance stage during his first visit to Thorns & Roses, arrived, followed by Hunter’s ECO brothers, and the space transformed into a makeshift command center. Maps sprawled across the hood of a car, annotated with scribbles and various markers.
Minutes later, five strangers, who looked every bit as serious and combat-ready as the situation demanded, filed from three cars. All had the same straight backs, alert gazes, and strong physiques as Kevin.
"Here’s what we know," Hunter started, pointing to the highlighted areas on the map where Slate’s previous movements had clustered. "Rex’s video caught some key details in the background—street signs, unique graffiti—it helped us pin down likely locations."
Kevin nodded, his fingers tracing routes on the map. "We’ll split into three teams. Alpha will hit the main entrance here," he tapped vigorously, "while Bravo provides overwatch from this point.” Pointing to another spot, he continued, “Charly here. Stealth is key until we make entry."
One of the veterans, a wiry man with sharp eyes, chimed in, "I’ve arranged for night-vision gear and silent entry tools. We can’t afford any alarms tipping them off."
Hunter, while listening, folded his arms, feeling the weight of responsibility press down on him. Every decision could mean life or death, not just for his team but for Aubrey and the others held inside.
In his home office, Ethan was the nerve center of the operation, surrounded by the technological lifeline of his rescue mission. The room buzzed with the low hum of his desktop and the intermittent chirps from his mobile phone on the desk. His laptop screen was alive with CCTV footage, his fingers adeptly navigating between different camera feeds and security angles. The landline was pressed to his ear, creating a direct line to Dani, while text messages occasionally lit up his mobile screen, each alert tightening the tension in the room.
Ethan pushed back his shoulders. "Dani, what's the status?" His voice was calm, yet assertive as he focused on the dual monitors, one displaying a detailed map, the other filled with communications and logistics updates.
"I’ve got eyes on the police communications." Dani's voice crackled through the speaker. "Brock’s FBI contacts are in position. They’re making sure the local precinct is in the dark until we've secured the site."
"Good." Ethan’s heart kicked against his chest, a rush of adrenaline sharpening his focus. "Give me a second, I'm patching this through to Hunter." He quickly switched devices, dialing Hunter on his mobile. The line crackled, and then Hunter's steady breathing filled his ear.
“Hey. FBI is at the precinct. You’re good to go.”
