Page 51 of Guarded from Corruption

We all grab our night-vision goggles and slip them on, illuminating the night again.

Then we start moving again, the new engine quiet in the stillness.

Dante says, “I’m parking along the east side of the building. We’ll make our approach from there.”

Matt is the only one without goggles on as he watches the laptop screen. “They’re just coming around the back of the building.”

“We can’t let them get her inside,” I reply tightly. “It increases the risk by ten-fold.”

As we approach the building, Matt starts typing quickly. “They have a basic security system. Just a few cameras on the exterior. Easy to bypass.”

Dante stops the car just along a windowless stretch of wall. “Okay. Niall, Xavier, you get Jade. The rest of us will take out the two men. Erik, you and I will keep them restrained. Rhiannon, Matt—you secure the exits. Hopefully no one will know we’re here, but just in case, we don’t want anyone escaping.”

He pauses. “Does that sound good to everyone?”

A chorus of low yeses follows.

“Alright.” Dante raises his fist. “Ready. Let’s do this.”

Then his hand comes down, and we move.

We slip from the SUV in one silent exodus. Doors close with almost inaudible snicks. Our footsteps are silent on the packed gravel. Even our breaths are slow and controlled.

Everything winnows down to this moment.

I promised Jade, and I will not fail.

Xavier and I dart along the wall of the building while the rest of the team slips into the woods. Pressed close to the brick exterior, hidden in shadows, we head north to the rear of the building. Communication isn’t necessary at this point—after nearly a decade working together, Xavier follows my lead intuitively.

As we approach the loading dock, two voices carry toward us. Not my teammates, but the two men who took Jade. They’re not making any attempt to be quiet, but why would they all the way out here? Miles out of town, no other buildings around, there’s no reason for them to worry about being heard.

One of them grumbles, “It’s bullshit we’re not allowed to touch them. It’s not like anyone would know.”

The other snaps, “They have cameras everywhere. I’m not getting caught. Anyway, we keep making these runs, soon you’ll have enough to get one of your own.”

White-hot rage explodes inside me.

Then I channel it into cold determination.

They won’t get the chance to touch another woman. There won’t be any more runs. The only place they’re going is prison.

And they’ll never put their hands on Jade again.

Seconds later, we reach the back corner of the building and I put my hand up in a gesture to hold. Peering around the corner, I spot the two men standing near the trunk, looking completely at ease, and my fury resurges.

Those fuckers.

The primal part of me wants to hurt them. Punish them for what they did to Jade. For their part in this monstrous organization.

But the cooler-headed part knows my role.

So I wait. Xavier only a foot behind me; as always, having my six.

Once again, time slows.

Moments turn to hours.

And then.

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