Page 116 of Caught in the Crossfire

“No one will stop me, Ethan. Not even you.”

“This is not a time for vigilante justice. I want them to pay as much as you do. Those women are under my protection as are the other citizens of Otter Creek. We’re doing this my way so I don’t have to slap handcuffs on the wrong perps. Unless you want her to visit you in prison, you’ll follow my rules.”

He turned to Mason. “This is your last chance to back out, Mason. Are you sure you want to do this?”

“They want me and Linc. We have to give them what they want to have a chance to free the women.” A slim chance. Fisher and Patton wouldn’t let the women go without a fight even though their main goal was to kill Mason and Linc.

“If the men open fire, you better hope they hit the vest,” Trent said. “Plenty of unprotected places on your body are vulnerable.”

“Understood.”

He pointed at Mason. “No injuries, understand? I don’t want Grace upset with me if anything happens to you.”

“Same goes,” Rio chimed in. “I don’t want to call your dad and explain why you’re in the hospital or the morgue.”

“Time to move,” Josh murmured. “Linc, you and Mase turn on the comm system as soon as we leave. Keep it on. We’ll get eyes on the camp, and convey the setup.”

“Yes, sir.”

Except for Rio, the operatives melted into the shadows of the trees. He came to stand in front of Mason. “We have your back, Mase.”

“Nicole and Dawn are your priority. I don’t care what happens to me. Protect them.”

Rio squeezed his shoulder. “We’ll protect all of you. Be safe, cousin.” He followed his teammates.

Ethan signaled Nick. Within seconds, the two policemen disappeared from sight.

“Now comes the hard part,” Linc said. “We wait.”

Five minutes before he and Linc left for the campground, Alex’s voice sounded over the comm system. “Mason.”

“I’m here.”

“I have eyes on the camp and Nicole. Prepare yourself.”

Mason’s blood ran cold. “Tell me.”

“Someone beat her.”

He staggered back against the SUV, grief stricken. “How bad?”

“Enough. You can’t let her appearance rattle you or you give the enemy more leverage to use against you. She’s mobile and will heal.”

“Stay with the plan, or you’re dead and so is Nicole,” Ethan whispered.

“Yes, sir.” The plan didn’t prevent him from beating Fisher to within an inch of his life when he got his hands on the jerk. Mason knew that Fisher caused Nicole’s injuries.

“Dawn?” Linc asked, voice tight.

“Nothing so far. Still looking. Liam?”

Liam McCoy, Bravo’s sniper, whispered, “No sighting.”

The PSI instructor’s eyes closed, his expression one a mix of anger and pain.

“Check in,” Ethan ordered. One by one, the operatives acknowledged that they were in position as did Rod and Stella. “Mase, Linc, go.”

“Copy that,” Linc said.

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