Page 37 of Casey's Hero

“It means the extraction won’t be by land.”

“I don’t understand,” Casey said. “Are you going to fly in? If so, where are you going to find someone willing to take a plane or helicopter into a cartel compound?”

“They’re not going in by air.” Kalea took Casey’s arm in hers. “They’re going in by sea.”

Casey’s gaze went to Jacob. “By water? But I’m not that good a swimmer.”

Jacob frowned. “Sweetheart, you don’t need to know how to swim.”

Her eyes rounded for a moment and then narrowed. “Oh. You’re not going to take me.”

He shook his head, his heart squeezing hard in his chest at the look of disappointment on her face. The mission would be far too dangerous to take her. “I wouldn’t take you even if it was by land. The cartel is known for being ruthless. They are equal-opportunity bastards. They’d just as soon kill women and children as grown men.”

Casey gave him a tight-lipped smile and a nod. “I get it. And I’d be a distraction.”

“A beautiful distraction, but a distraction, nonetheless. And we’re going by water. That, in itself, will create all kinds of challenges you’re not trained for.”

Again, she nodded. “I’m convinced.”

“Besides, we need you to stay here with Kalea,” Hank said. “The two of you can look out for each other while we get in, get our guy and get out. We’ll have to do this all on the down-low.We can’t wait for the government to sanction this. By the time it goes through channels, it might be too late to save Hawk.”

Kalea gasped and pressed a hand to her lips.

“We’re not going to let red tape bog down our efforts to save our friend,” Jacob added, his jaw tight, his hands clenched in tight fists. “So, what’s the plan?”

“We meet at Reid’s place,” Hank said. “As we speak, I have some of my guys flying in from Montana on a private jet. Some of you might remember Brandon Rayne.”

“Boomer?” Angelo laughed. “He’s still alive?”

“Very much so. And he has a baby girl.” Hank grinned. “And Maddog Maddox.”

“I haven’t seen Maddog since our raid outside of Fallujah,” Reid said.

“I have a couple of Deltas coming with them, as well,” Hank said.

“Better find some water wings for the Deltas,” Devlin said. “I hear they don’t float.”

The other men chuckled.

“They assured me they can swim quite well,” Hank said. “They’ll be here in another couple of hours. That will give us time to put together a plan and collect the necessary arms and watercraft.”

Jacob turned to Casey. “Are you and Kalea going to be all right here by yourselves?”

Kalea nodded. “We’ll be fine. Are you sure there isn’t anything we can do to help?”

Hank shook his head. “The best thing you can do is remain safe and stay behind a locked door. We don’t know exactly why they took Hawk. The only information we have to go on is conjecture.”

“Do you have a gun?” Jacob asked Casey.

She shook her head. “No.”

Jacob’s brow furrowed. “Do you know how tousea handgun?”

Casey nodded. “I’ve been practicing at one of the local indoor gun ranges. I was going to purchase a small handgun for self-protection.” She gave him a crooked grin. “Guess it’s a little late for that.”

“You can have mine. I know for a fact Reid has a veritable arsenal at his place. I can pick up a weapon there.” Jacob left the apartment and hurried out to his truck, returning with his nine-millimeter Glock.

Casey took it, her hands shaking slightly. “I’ve only held a gun at the range.”

---